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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. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. ground — the earth
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mark — a trace
  5. mug — a cup
  6. mug — to rob
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. shower — to wash
  13. clip — a video
  14. ground — crushed
  15. mark — a grade
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. snap — to click
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. ground — a position
  20. mug — a face
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. clip — for paper
  24. clip — to cut

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