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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: pitcher · cap · safe · nail · foot · lash · bear · wound

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  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. nail — on a finger
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. foot — a measure
  4. cap — a hat
  5. cap — a lid
  6. wound — an injury
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. wound — an injury
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. cap — of ice
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. pitcher — a jug
  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