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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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. current — electric
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. prune — to trim
  6. prune — to trim
  7. suit — clothes
  8. saw — the tool
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. pitch — completely
  11. suit — to fit
  12. suit — in cards
  13. current — of water
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. current — happening now
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. shower — rain
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. shower — to wash
  24. safe — out of danger

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