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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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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: content · lash · nail · cabinet · mark · safe · foot · rest

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. foot — a measure
  6. rest — what's left
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. mark — a trace
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. rest — a break
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rest — what's left
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. content — the amount
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. mark — a grade
  24. content — happy

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