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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 120 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: bark · lash · safe · dip · deal · cap · fan · cue

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. deal — to handle
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. cap — a lid
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. cue — for pool
  12. bark — to shout
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. dip — to sink
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. cue — a hint
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. cue — a signal
  23. cap — of ice
  24. safe — out of danger

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