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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cue · lash · tube · mate · safe · shower · jam · track

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. tube — the underground
  3. cue — a signal
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. shower — to wash
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. track — a path
  8. shower — rain
  9. cue — a hint
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. tube — a container
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. mate — to breed
  15. mate — a partner
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. cue — for pool
  22. mate — a friend
  23. track — a song
  24. track — to keep track

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