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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. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. firm — a company
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. bore — to drill
  5. firm — decided
  6. roll — a cake
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. shower — to wash
  9. firm — steady
  10. suit — clothes
  11. suit — in cards
  12. bank — for money
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bank — for money
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. bore — to tire
  19. shower — rain
  20. rule — government
  21. bank — of a river
  22. suit — to fit
  23. roll — a list
  24. rule — a law

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