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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: safe · nail · net · mouse · rule · court · cabinet · vault

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. court — for sport
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. vault — a safe
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. net — after costs
  13. net — for catching
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. net — in sport
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. court — of a king
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. rule — government
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. court — of law
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rule — a law

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