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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. root — the cause
  4. rock — music
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. shower — to wash
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bore — to drill
  9. bore — to tire
  10. wax — to grow
  11. root — of a word
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. root — of a plant
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. season — in sport
  21. shower — rain
  22. season — of the year
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. wax — in the ear

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