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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.

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: wake · track · toast · mate · saw · nail · safe · perch

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. wake — a trail
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. mate — a partner
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. track — a song
  8. mate — to breed
  9. saw — the tool
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mate — a friend
  14. saw — the tool
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. track — to keep track
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. track — a path
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. perch — the fish
  24. toast — bread

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