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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. fine — high quality
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. key — the most important part
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bank — for money
  7. bank — for money
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. bank — of a river
  10. net — for catching
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. bulb — for light
  13. net — after costs
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. bore — to tire
  16. shower — rain
  17. key — for a lock
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. net — in sport
  20. bore — to drill
  21. shower — to wash
  22. key — in music
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. fine — all right

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