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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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. saw — the tool
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. key — in music
  6. dip — to sink
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. shower — rain
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. key — for a lock
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rock — a stone
  16. key — the most important part
  17. shower — to wash
  18. stock — goods
  19. stock — shares
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. content — the amount
  22. saw — the tool
  23. content — happy
  24. rock — music

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