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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: can · last · rest · jam · stick · net · shower · safe

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. last — to go on
  4. shower — to wash
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rest — what's left
  9. rest — a break
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. net — for catching
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. last — finally
  16. can — a tin
  17. last — final
  18. can — to be able to
  19. net — in sport
  20. net — after costs
  21. rest — what's left
  22. can — a tin
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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