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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: ball · saw · chest · toast · current · bowl · can · safe

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. can — a tin
  3. saw — the tool
  4. chest — of your body
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. can — a tin
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. ball — a great time
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. current — electric
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — of water
  16. chest — a box
  17. can — to be able to
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. chest — of your body
  21. toast — bread
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. ball — a dance
  24. safe — out of danger

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