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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 dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. bulb — for light
  3. last — to go on
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. shower — to wash
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. last — finally
  9. shower — rain
  10. bulb — for light
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. object — an aim
  13. dip — to sink
  14. last — final
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. object — to protest
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. object — a thing

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