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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: toast · nail · rush · ball · safe · foot · staff · drill

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. rush — hurry
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. drill — a practice
  6. ball — a great time
  7. staff — employees
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. staff — a stick
  10. staff — employees
  11. foot — a measure
  12. ball — a dance
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. drill — the tool
  16. toast — bread
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. drill — army training

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