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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: hide · fan · safe · perch · shower · prune · toast · staff

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. prune — to trim
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. perch — the fish
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. prune — to trim
  16. staff — employees
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. toast — bread
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. staff — employees
  21. shower — rain
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. shower — to wash

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