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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: rush · dip · band · toast · shower · safe · mug · bay

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. toast — bread
  3. shower — rain
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. mug — a cup
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a face
  18. band — a music group
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. dip — to sink
  21. shower — to wash
  22. band — a ring
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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