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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. rest — what's left
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. drill — army training
  7. mate — a friend
  8. drill — a practice
  9. mate — to breed
  10. shower — rain
  11. pound — a weight
  12. shower — to wash
  13. mate — a partner
  14. charge — a price
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. charge — in control
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. rest — a break
  19. rest — what's left
  20. drill — the tool
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. charge — electricity
  24. pound — for dogs

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