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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. can — a tin
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. shower — to wash
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. can — to be able to
  11. deal — to handle
  12. mine — for digging
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. can — a tin
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. deal — an agreement

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