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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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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. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — to wash
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. squash — the sport
  5. snap — to click
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. bulb — for light
  8. shower — rain
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. bulb — for light
  13. cue — for pool
  14. cue — a hint
  15. club — a group
  16. club — for dancing
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. toast — bread
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. club — for golf
  21. cue — a signal
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. squash — to crush
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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