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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. shower — rain
  3. shower — to wash
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. net — after costs
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. chair — a leader
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. net — for catching
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. net — in sport
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. can — a tin
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. can — to be able to
  22. deal — to handle
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. rush — hurry

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