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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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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: tube · cap · kid · safe · cue · suit · key · lash

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. suit — to fit
  3. suit — clothes
  4. suit — in cards
  5. cue — a signal
  6. kid — to tease
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. tube — the underground
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. cap — a hat
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. key — for a lock
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. key — the most important part
  16. kid — child
  17. cue — a hint
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. cap — of ice
  20. tube — a container
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. cap — a lid
  23. cue — for pool
  24. key — in music

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