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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: temple · mouse · charge · bear · wave · bay · shower · object

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. object — a thing
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. charge — electricity
  5. object — an aim
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. object — to protest
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bear — the animal
  14. shower — to wash
  15. charge — a price
  16. shower — rain
  17. bear — the animal
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. charge — in control
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. mouse — the animal

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