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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.

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

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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: tear · mate · staff · foot · safe · nail · board · bulb

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. mate — a partner
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. tear — from crying
  11. staff — a stick
  12. board — a committee
  13. mate — to breed
  14. board — to get on
  15. bulb — for light
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. tear — to rip
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. staff — employees
  21. mate — a friend
  22. tear — from crying
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. foot — a measure

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