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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
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: shower · rash · jam · hide · rush · pitcher · safe · mate

  1. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — to wash
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. rash — a series
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. mate — a friend
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. mate — to breed
  14. rash — hasty
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. rush — hurry
  19. shower — rain
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. mate — a partner
  24. rush — to hurry

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