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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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. mark — a grade
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bear — the animal
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. shower — rain
  13. object — to protest
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. object — an aim
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. shower — to wash
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. object — a thing
  22. pitch — completely
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bear — to put up with

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