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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 116 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 put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. rash — a series
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. shower — to wash
  5. pass — a permit
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. squash — to crush
  9. shower — rain
  10. band — a music group
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. band — a ring
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. can — a tin
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. squash — the sport
  18. can — to be able to
  19. deal — to handle
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. can — a tin
  22. rash — hasty
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. deal — an agreement

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