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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: wake · safe · cue · bay · nail · shower · row · kick

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. shower — to wash
  4. cue — a hint
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. row — to paddle
  11. cue — a signal
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. kick — in football
  15. cue — for pool
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. shower — rain
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. wake — a trail
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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