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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: sharp · bound · safe · bay · pitcher · vault · net · nail

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. net — for catching
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. bound — obliged
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. vault — a safe
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. bound — certain
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. net — after costs
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bound — tied together
  23. sharp — clever
  24. bay — a horse colour

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