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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. race — the arms race
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. bound — tied together
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. bound — obliged
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. ground — a position
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. ground — crushed
  15. race — a contest
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. shower — to wash
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. race — humankind
  21. ground — the earth
  22. shower — rain
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bound — certain

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