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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
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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: toast · ruler · track · saw · squash · safe · field · staff

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. staff — employees
  3. squash — to crush
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. field — a subject
  6. saw — the tool
  7. squash — the sport
  8. track — a path
  9. staff — employees
  10. track — to keep track
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. field — farmland
  18. saw — the tool
  19. track — a song
  20. field — for sport
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. toast — bread
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. ruler — for measuring

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