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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. drill — army training
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. ball — a dance
  11. drill — the tool
  12. shower — to wash
  13. mug — a cup
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. shower — rain
  17. mug — to rob
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. ball — a great time
  20. mug — a face
  21. drill — a practice
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. trunk — of a car

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