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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.

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 · tear · calf · sharp · can · hide · bank · fan

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. sharp — clever
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. tear — from crying
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bank — of a river
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. tear — to rip
  10. bank — for money
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. tear — from crying
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. can — to be able to
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. can — a tin
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. can — a tin
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bank — for money

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