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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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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 · fan · fine · lean · racket · nail · mark · row

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. row — to paddle
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. row — a line
  12. lean — to bend
  13. mark — a grade
  14. fine — high quality
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. mark — a trace
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. lean — thin
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. fine — all right
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. racket — for tennis

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