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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. fall — the season
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. bound — tied together
  5. fall — to drop
  6. bound — obliged
  7. board — to get on
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. bore — to tire
  10. bore — to drill
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. bound — certain
  13. fall — to drop
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. shower — to wash
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. board — a committee
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. shower — rain
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bore — gave birth

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