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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 kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. shower — to wash
  4. shower — rain
  5. club — a group
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. scale — size or range
  8. scale — in music
  9. pound — a weight
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. tube — a container
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. club — for dancing
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. stem — to come from
  20. club — for golf
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. tube — the underground
  24. safe — out of danger

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