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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: safe · jam · leaves · swing · shower · craft · bore · perch

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. swing — in golf
  4. craft — a skill
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. shower — to wash
  8. shower — rain
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. swing — music
  12. craft — boats
  13. bore — to tire
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. perch — the fish
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. bore — to drill
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. swing — to play on

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