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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 120 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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. shower — to wash
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. rash — a series
  5. shower — rain
  6. pit — a hole
  7. bank — of a river
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. rash — hasty
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. pass — a permit
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bank — for money
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. bank — for money
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. pass — to succeed

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