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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. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — to wash
  2. bulb — for light
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. squash — the sport
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. can — to be able to
  8. can — a tin
  9. shower — rain
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. suit — in cards
  13. suit — to fit
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. mug — a cup
  16. can — a tin
  17. squash — to crush
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. suit — clothes
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. mug — a face
  23. mug — to rob
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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