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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 little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. fall — to drop
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. object — an aim
  6. mug — a face
  7. object — a thing
  8. object — to protest
  9. kick — in football
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. shower — rain
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. fall — to drop
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. shower — to wash
  17. mug — to rob
  18. hand — in cards
  19. mug — a cup
  20. fall — the season
  21. hand — help
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bear — the animal

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