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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. shower — rain
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. shower — to wash
  5. rock — music
  6. suit — to fit
  7. saw — the tool
  8. track — a path
  9. mate — a friend
  10. object — an aim
  11. rush — hurry
  12. suit — clothes
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. track — to keep track
  15. object — to protest
  16. track — a song
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. mate — to breed
  19. suit — in cards
  20. rock — a stone
  21. saw — the tool
  22. object — a thing
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. mate — a partner

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