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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 116 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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. current — electric
  8. can — to be able to
  9. current — of water
  10. pound — a weight
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. kid — to tease
  14. cue — for pool
  15. mine — for digging
  16. can — a tin
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. can — a tin
  20. cue — a hint
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. current — happening now
  24. kid — child

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