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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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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: band · stick · can · nail · rest · safe · mark · perch

  1. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a ring
  2. can — to be able to
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. rest — what's left
  6. can — a tin
  7. rest — what's left
  8. band — a music group
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mark — a trace
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. perch — the fish
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rest — a break
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. can — a tin
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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