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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: clip · safe · object · scale · rash · stock · bear · cabinet

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. rash — hasty
  3. bear — the animal
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. stock — goods
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. object — to protest
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. clip — a video
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. scale — in music
  16. bear — the animal
  17. stock — shares
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. object — an aim
  20. object — a thing
  21. clip — to cut
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. rash — a series
  24. clip — for paper

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