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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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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 · rush · can · pit · safe · bat · net · bank

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. can — to be able to
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bat — the animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. bank — of a river
  9. net — in sport
  10. net — for catching
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bank — for money
  13. net — after costs
  14. can — a tin
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pit — in a race
  17. bank — for money
  18. bat — for baseball
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. pit — a hole
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rush — hurry

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