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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 116 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: safe · hide · bay · rule · pitcher · net · spring · lash

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  9. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. rule — a law
  9. rule — government
  10. spring — the season
  11. rule — to rule out
  12. spring — a coil
  13. net — for catching
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. net — after costs
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. spring — of water
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. net — in sport
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. hide — animal skin

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