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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. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. shower — rain
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. band — a ring
  14. rush — hurry
  15. can — a tin
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. band — a music group
  18. fork — in a road
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. shower — to wash
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — a thrill

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