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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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. shower — to wash
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. mate — to breed
  5. mate — a partner
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. current — happening now
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. toast — bread
  11. current — electric
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. mate — a friend
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. shower — rain
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. firm — decided
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. firm — steady
  21. current — of water
  22. firm — a company
  23. pass — a permit
  24. straw — dry grass

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