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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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. mug — a cup
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. shower — rain
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. board — a committee
  9. mug — to rob
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. land — to come down
  12. land — a country
  13. shower — to wash
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. lie — to recline
  16. board — to get on
  17. land — ground
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rush — hurry
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. mug — a face
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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