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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 120 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: fan · can · cabinet · prune · ball · pop · safe · tube

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. prune — to trim
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. tube — the underground
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. tube — a container
  14. ball — a dance
  15. can — a tin
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. can — a tin
  18. prune — to trim
  19. pop — to visit
  20. ball — a great time
  21. can — to be able to
  22. pop — music
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. pop — soda

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