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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 124 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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. lean — to bend
  3. shower — to wash
  4. cap — a lid
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. cap — a hat
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. lean — thin
  9. ball — a dance
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. ball — a great time
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. foot — a measure
  14. cap — of ice
  15. pound — a weight
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. shower — rain
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. bowl — to roll

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