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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
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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 · tube · key · cue · lean · charge · calf · pitcher

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. tube — the underground
  3. cue — a signal
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. charge — electricity
  6. cue — for pool
  7. tube — a container
  8. lean — to bend
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. key — the most important part
  12. charge — in control
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. cue — a hint
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lean — thin
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. charge — a price
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. key — for a lock
  22. key — in music
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. calf — of the leg

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