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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: safe · cue · fan · bat · cabinet · fine · nail · vault

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. fine — high quality
  3. bat — for baseball
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bat — the animal
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. cue — a signal
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. vault — a safe
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. cue — a hint
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bat — in an idiom
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. cue — for pool
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. fine — all right
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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