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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: safe · scale · bat · fine · firm · toast · arm · nail

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. firm — decided
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. scale — in music
  11. toast — bread
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. scale — size or range
  14. bat — for baseball
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. firm — a company
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. fine — high quality
  20. fine — all right
  21. firm — steady
  22. bat — the animal
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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