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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mug · safe · pound · cue · fan · pass · hide · bark

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. cue — a hint
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. pound — a weight
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. bark — to shout
  17. pass — a permit
  18. cue — for pool
  19. mug — to rob
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. pound — for dogs
  22. mug — a face
  23. cue — a signal
  24. safe — out of danger

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