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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. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. shower — to wash
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. ball — a great time
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. file — a tool
  9. bank — for money
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. pit — in a race
  12. bank — for money
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. staff — employees
  15. pit — a hole
  16. can — to be able to
  17. file — a line of people
  18. staff — employees
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. ball — a dance
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. staff — a stick
  23. file — a document
  24. bank — of a river

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