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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.

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: fall · rush · charge · saw · key · safe · can · wind

  1. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. fall — the season
  5. fall — to drop
  6. wind — moving air
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. charge — in control
  10. key — in music
  11. can — a tin
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. key — the most important part
  14. charge — a price
  15. rush — hurry
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. fall — to drop
  18. can — a tin
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. can — to be able to
  22. saw — the tool
  23. charge — electricity
  24. key — for a lock

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