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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: object · saw · wound · fan · safe · perch · cabinet · foot

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. saw — the tool
  3. perch — the fish
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. saw — the tool
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wound — an injury
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. object — a thing
  12. foot — a measure
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. wound — an injury
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. object — an aim
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. object — to protest
  24. safe — a strongbox

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