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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 116 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 · tube · scale · present · hide · track · can · fine

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. can — a tin
  4. track — to keep track
  5. fine — all right
  6. can — a tin
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. present — the time now
  13. scale — size or range
  14. tube — the underground
  15. present — a gift
  16. track — a song
  17. fine — high quality
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. present — there
  20. tube — a container
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. scale — in music
  23. can — to be able to
  24. safe — a strongbox

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