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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 am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. shower — rain
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. chest — of your body
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. shower — to wash
  7. pass — a permit
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. chest — a box
  13. bank — for money
  14. bulb — for light
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. bulb — for light
  17. chest — of your body
  18. bank — for money
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. saw — the tool
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bank — of a river
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. saw — the tool

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