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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. shower — rain
  3. fine — high quality
  4. bear — the animal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bound — obliged
  7. staff — a stick
  8. staff — employees
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. face — to confront
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. shower — to wash
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. fine — all right
  18. bear — the animal
  19. stand — to bear
  20. face — to point toward
  21. staff — employees
  22. bound — certain
  23. bound — tied together
  24. face — part of the head

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