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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. cue — a signal
  3. stock — shares
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. root — of a plant
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. shower — to wash
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. root — the cause
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. root — of a word
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cue — for pool
  17. toast — bread
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. stock — goods
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. cue — a hint

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