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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 116 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 · firm · safe · mark · tube · fan · race · rush

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. mark — a trace
  4. tube — a container
  5. race — a contest
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. race — the arms race
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. firm — steady
  11. firm — a company
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. race — humankind
  15. tube — the underground
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. rush — hurry
  18. mark — a grade
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. firm — decided

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