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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: safe · mine · object · mouse · fan · bank · ball · nail

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. object — an aim
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mine — for digging
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. ball — a dance
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bank — for money
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. ball — a great time
  20. bank — for money
  21. object — to protest
  22. object — a thing
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mouse — for a computer

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