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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.

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: jam · safe · saw · net · calf · chair · fall · fan

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. net — after costs
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. chair — a leader
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — the tool
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. fall — to drop
  21. net — in sport
  22. fall — to drop
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. fall — the season

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