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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 120 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: shower · lean · bark · current · lie · mug · fan · safe

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. current — of water
  3. lean — to bend
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. mug — a cup
  7. current — happening now
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. mug — a face
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. shower — to wash
  14. lean — thin
  15. bark — to shout
  16. current — electric
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. lie — to recline
  20. mug — to rob
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. bark — of a tree

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