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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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Word bank
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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: capital · wake · rash · safe · shower · pop · drill · bay

  1. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. drill — army training
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. drill — a practice
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. pop — soda
  8. shower — to wash
  9. capital — a city
  10. rash — a series
  11. shower — rain
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. drill — the tool
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. pop — music
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. capital — a big letter
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. wake — a trail
  21. pop — to visit
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. rash — hasty
  24. bay — a horse colour

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