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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: dip · straw · safe · squash · shower · stand · nail · leaves

  1. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. squash — the sport
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. squash — to crush
  13. stand — to bear
  14. shower — rain
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. dip — to sink
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. shower — to wash
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. dip — to dunk

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