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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: fine · safe · bass · track · spell · chest · object · nail

  1. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. object — to protest
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. bass — low music
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. fine — high quality
  7. chest — a box
  8. track — a song
  9. spell — letters
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. track — a path
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. chest — of your body
  16. spell — magic
  17. object — a thing
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. spell — a short time
  20. object — an aim
  21. bass — the fish
  22. track — to keep track
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. fine — all right

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