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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: safe · foot · jam · shower · cap · leaves · drill · cue

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. cue — a signal
  4. shower — to wash
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. drill — the tool
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. cue — a hint
  12. drill — a practice
  13. shower — rain
  14. cap — a hat
  15. foot — a measure
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. cue — for pool
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. cap — a lid
  21. cap — of ice
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. jam — in traffic

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