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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. fine — all right
  4. tube — a container
  5. shower — rain
  6. shower — to wash
  7. toast — bread
  8. track — a song
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. track — to keep track
  11. bear — the animal
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fine — high quality
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. track — a path
  18. stand — to bear
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. bear — the animal
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. tube — the underground

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