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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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. object — an aim
  3. object — a thing
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. can — a tin
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bass — low music
  12. pass — a permit
  13. can — a tin
  14. bass — the fish
  15. shower — to wash
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. stand — to bear
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. shower — rain
  21. can — to be able to
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. nail — on a finger

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