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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: shower · foot · game · scale · racket · bore · cue · safe

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. shower — to wash
  3. bore — to drill
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. shower — rain
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. game — wild animals
  11. cue — for pool
  12. game — a match
  13. bore — to tire
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. cue — a hint
  17. foot — a measure
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. cue — a signal
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. scale — size or range

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