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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 120 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: nail · sharp · safe · wind · spell · shower · lash · stand

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  20. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. spell — a short time
  3. stand — to bear
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. shower — rain
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. wind — moving air
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. spell — magic
  12. sharp — clever
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. spell — letters
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. wind — moving air
  20. wind — to turn a key
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. shower — to wash
  24. safe — out of danger

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