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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rock · deal · safe · hand · trunk · fine · scale · rest

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. fine — high quality
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. fine — all right
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. rock — a stone
  10. hand — help
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rock — music
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. rest — a break
  15. rest — what's left
  16. rest — what's left
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. scale — size or range
  21. deal — to handle
  22. scale — in music
  23. hand — in cards
  24. trunk — of an elephant

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com