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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: safe · can · lie · mine · current · pop · shower · pitcher

  1. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — to wash
  2. shower — rain
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. current — happening now
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. can — a tin
  8. lie — to recline
  9. pop — music
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. can — to be able to
  16. mine — for digging
  17. pop — to visit
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. can — a tin
  22. current — electric
  23. pop — soda
  24. current — of water

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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