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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. can — a tin
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. hand — in cards
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. shower — to wash
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. bass — the fish
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. shower — rain
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. mug — to rob
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bass — low music
  22. hand — help
  23. mug — a face
  24. can — a tin

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