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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: can · lie · racket · tube · vault · safe · nail · fan

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  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. safe — a strongbox
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. vault — a safe
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. tube — the underground
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. lie — to recline
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. tube — a container
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. can — to be able to

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