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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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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: snap · safe · track · drill · nail · vault · bear · charge

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bear — the animal
  3. charge — a price
  4. track — to keep track
  5. track — a path
  6. drill — the tool
  7. track — a song
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. drill — a practice
  11. drill — army training
  12. snap — to click
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. charge — electricity
  15. charge — in control
  16. bear — the animal
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. vault — a safe
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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