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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 116 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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. key — for a lock
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. pass — a permit
  5. key — the most important part
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. shower — to wash
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. key — in music
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. spell — magic
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — for light
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. spell — a short time
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. spell — letters
  22. vault — a safe
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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