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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 116 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: cabinet · saw · firm · safe · sharp · can · charge · hide

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. can — to be able to
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. saw — the tool
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. can — a tin
  10. charge — a price
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. charge — electricity
  13. firm — a company
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. saw — the tool
  16. can — a tin
  17. firm — steady
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. charge — in control
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. firm — decided
  22. sharp — clever
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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