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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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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: safe · capital · rash · mug · roll · can · fan · sharp

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. sharp — clever
  3. mug — a cup
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. roll — a cake
  7. roll — a list
  8. mug — a face
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mug — to rob
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. can — a tin
  16. rash — hasty
  17. capital — money
  18. can — a tin
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. rash — a series
  22. capital — a city
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. can — to be able to

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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