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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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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: rock · wake · fine · board · arm · safe · mug · nail

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. board — to get on
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. mug — a face
  6. board — a committee
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. fine — all right
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. mug — to rob
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. wake — a trail
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. rock — music
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. fine — high quality
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rock — a stone
  23. mug — a cup
  24. fine — a penalty

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