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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 120 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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. rock — a stone
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. shower — to wash
  12. rock — music
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bass — the fish
  15. cue — for pool
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bass — low music
  21. cue — a hint
  22. dip — to sink
  23. cue — a signal
  24. shower — rain

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