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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.

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: mark · arm · rash · object · rush · safe · mine · cap

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. mine — for digging
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. object — an aim
  6. mark — a grade
  7. rash — hasty
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. mark — a trace
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. object — to protest
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. object — a thing
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. cap — a hat
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. cap — of ice
  21. rush — hurry
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rash — a series
  24. cap — a lid

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