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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.

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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. stand — to bear
  11. shower — rain
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. bound — certain
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bark — to shout
  24. shower — to wash

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