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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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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: wave · racket · pitcher · fork · mug · safe · nail · face

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. face — part of the head
  3. mug — a cup
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. mug — a face
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. mug — to rob
  13. face — to confront
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. fork — in a road
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. face — to point toward
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. wave — of the sea

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