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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: saw · pitcher · fall · mine · firm · safe · fine · charge

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. fall — the season
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. charge — in control
  7. firm — steady
  8. fall — to drop
  9. charge — a price
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. saw — the tool
  13. fine — high quality
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. firm — decided
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. firm — a company
  19. fall — to drop
  20. mine — for digging
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. saw — the tool
  23. fine — all right
  24. charge — electricity

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