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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
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: chest · safe · mug · wave · nail · spell · foot · mate

  1. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. mug — a cup
  5. mug — to rob
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. foot — a measure
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. mate — a friend
  12. mate — a partner
  13. chest — of your body
  14. spell — magic
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. mate — to breed
  20. spell — letters
  21. chest — a box
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. mug — a face
  24. spell — a short time

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