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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. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. toast — bread
  5. drill — army training
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. drill — the tool
  8. stand — to bear
  9. season — of the year
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. shower — to wash
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. drill — a practice
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rock — a stone
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. rock — music
  24. season — in sport

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