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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. deal — to handle
  3. bound — tied together
  4. can — a tin
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bound — certain
  7. present — there
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. bound — obliged
  10. suit — clothes
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. can — to be able to
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. season — of the year
  15. present — the time now
  16. can — a tin
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. wax — to grow
  19. season — in sport
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. shower — to wash
  23. present — a gift
  24. suit — in cards

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