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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 · rash · plane · kick · mine · mug · staff · row

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. mug — to rob
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. staff — a stick
  6. rash — a series
  7. plane — a tool
  8. kick — in football
  9. mug — a face
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. mug — a cup
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. row — a line
  19. mine — for digging
  20. staff — employees
  21. row — to paddle
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. rash — hasty
  24. plane — an aircraft

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