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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 116 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: safe · cue · prune · mug · spell · shower · bound · can

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. prune — to trim
  6. shower — to wash
  7. prune — to trim
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mug — a cup
  10. cue — for pool
  11. spell — magic
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bound — certain
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. cue — a signal
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a face
  18. cue — a hint
  19. shower — rain
  20. bound — obliged
  21. spell — letters
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. spell — a short time
  24. can — a tin

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