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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. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. fall — the season
  3. toast — bread
  4. mug — a cup
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. fall — to drop
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. firm — a company
  12. fall — to drop
  13. scale — size or range
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. firm — steady
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. shower — to wash
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. firm — decided
  22. mug — to rob
  23. scale — in music
  24. mug — a face

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