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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: squash · safe · chest · calf · wake · ruler · bay · cue

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. cue — a signal
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. cue — a hint
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. cue — for pool
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. squash — to crush
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. squash — the sport
  19. chest — of your body
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. chest — a box
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. chest — of your body
  24. wake — a trail

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