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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: mate · bank · rash · mug · hide · safe · shower · nail

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. rash — a series
  3. shower — to wash
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. mug — a face
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. shower — rain
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. mate — to breed
  12. bank — for money
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. rash — hasty
  15. mug — a cup
  16. mug — to rob
  17. bank — of a river
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. mate — a partner
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. mate — a friend
  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