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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: staff · rash · mug · safe · mine · saw · perch · wound

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. staff — a stick
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. rash — hasty
  7. mug — to rob
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mine — for digging
  10. rash — a series
  11. saw — the tool
  12. staff — employees
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. mug — a cup
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. staff — employees
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. wound — an injury
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. mug — a face
  23. perch — the fish
  24. wound — an injury

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