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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: row · squash · rest · pit · toast · hand · safe · can

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. can — a tin
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. squash — the sport
  9. can — a tin
  10. hand — in cards
  11. row — to paddle
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rest — what's left
  15. toast — bread
  16. pit — in a race
  17. rest — a break
  18. pit — a hole
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. can — to be able to
  21. hand — help
  22. rest — what's left
  23. squash — to crush
  24. hand — part of the body

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