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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: cabinet · safe · lash · track · last · rush · mug · nail

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mug — a face
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. track — a path
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rush — hurry
  12. mug — to rob
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. last — finally
  15. mug — a cup
  16. track — a song
  17. last — to go on
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. last — final
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. track — to keep track
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. safe — out of danger

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