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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: cue · saw · squash · cabinet · safe · stock

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. squash — to crush
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. saw — the tool
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. cue — a hint
  13. cue — a signal
  14. cue — for pool
  15. stock — shares
  16. stock — goods
  17. squash — the sport
  18. cabinet — ministers

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