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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. object — an aim
  4. can — to be able to
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. can — a tin
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. stem — to come from
  10. object — a thing
  11. kid — to tease
  12. ball — a great time
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. present — the time now
  15. present — a gift
  16. present — there
  17. can — a tin
  18. ball — a dance
  19. kid — child
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. shower — to wash
  22. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  23. shower — rain
  24. object — to protest

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