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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 · ruler · shower · game · charge · suit · hand · land

  1. When are we going to ________________?
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. hand — help
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. shower — rain
  6. charge — in control
  7. suit — clothes
  8. shower — to wash
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. game — wild animals
  11. charge — a price
  12. land — ground
  13. hand — in cards
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. charge — electricity
  17. land — a country
  18. suit — to fit
  19. game — a match
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. suit — in cards

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