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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: can · pound · safe · lie · saw · rush · scale · squash

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. lie — to recline
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. saw — the tool
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. squash — to crush
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. can — a tin
  10. saw — the tool
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. pound — a weight
  13. rush — hurry
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. can — to be able to
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. scale — in music
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. scale — size or range
  22. can — a tin
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. squash — the sport

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