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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 has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. mate — to breed
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. board — a committee
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. mate — a partner
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. mate — a friend
  15. shower — to wash
  16. shower — rain
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. board — to get on
  22. snap — to click
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. mouse — the animal

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