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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 · spell · shower · deal · ball · drill · mug · cue

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  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. mug — a cup
  2. shower — rain
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. drill — army training
  5. ball — a dance
  6. spell — letters
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. ball — a great time
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. cue — a signal
  11. mug — to rob
  12. shower — to wash
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. cue — a hint
  15. cue — for pool
  16. deal — to handle
  17. spell — magic
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. drill — the tool
  20. drill — a practice
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. spell — a short time
  23. mug — a face
  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