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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 · pass · rock · mouse · pound · chip · fan · nail

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. pass — a permit
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. rock — a stone
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. pound — a weight
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. chip — for betting
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. rock — music
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. chip — to eat

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