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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 120 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
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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: land · can · key · fine · wound · safe · rush · pop

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. wound — an injury
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. rush — hurry
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. land — a country
  8. can — a tin
  9. fine — all right
  10. wound — an injury
  11. land — to come down
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. land — ground
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pop — soda
  18. pop — music
  19. key — for a lock
  20. pop — to visit
  21. fine — high quality
  22. key — in music
  23. can — a tin
  24. key — the most important part

Multiple-meaning words list

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

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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