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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. ground — crushed
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bulb — for light
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. mug — to rob
  9. ground — a position
  10. net — after costs
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — a face
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. fine — all right
  16. net — in sport
  17. net — for catching
  18. bulb — for light
  19. foot — a measure
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. fine — high quality
  22. shower — to wash
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. ruler — for measuring

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