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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. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. shower — to wash
  3. staff — employees
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. rush — hurry
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. race — the arms race
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. shower — rain
  14. lie — to recline
  15. race — a contest
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. staff — a stick
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. staff — employees
  22. mine — for digging
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. rush — to 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