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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.

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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: safe · calf · bay · spring · saw · pitcher · suit · shower

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. shower — rain
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. shower — to wash
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. spring — a coil
  14. suit — to fit
  15. spring — the season
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. spring — of water
  18. saw — the tool
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. saw — the tool
  22. suit — clothes
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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