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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: prune · dip · lash · foot · lie · safe · mouse · shower

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. foot — a measure
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. dip — to sink
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. prune — to trim
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. shower — rain
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. prune — to trim
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. shower — to wash
  18. lie — to recline
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. lash — to lash out

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