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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. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. bass — the fish
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. suit — clothes
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. vault — a safe
  15. shower — to wash
  16. kick — in football
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. suit — to fit
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. bass — low music
  23. suit — in cards
  24. bowl — to roll

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