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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: mouse · net · shower · ruler · pitch · safe · hand · current

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. shower — rain
  5. hand — help
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. current — electric
  10. current — of water
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. shower — to wash
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. net — for catching
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. current — happening now
  19. hand — in cards
  20. net — in sport
  21. net — after costs
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. pitch — completely
  24. ruler — a monarch

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