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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: fan · toast · mine · temple · craft · cabinet · safe · saw

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. craft — boats
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. saw — the tool
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. saw — the tool
  10. craft — a skill
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. mine — for digging

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