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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — to be able to
  4. shower — rain
  5. can — a tin
  6. chip — to eat
  7. mug — a face
  8. net — after costs
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. net — in sport
  14. mug — to rob
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. deal — to handle
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. shower — to wash
  21. mug — a cup
  22. chip — for betting
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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