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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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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: bank · mouse · cabinet · shower · chip · calf · tube · foot

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bank — of a river
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. foot — a measure
  12. tube — the underground
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. shower — rain
  15. bank — for money
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. bank — for money
  19. shower — to wash
  20. chip — to eat
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. chip — for betting
  24. calf — of the leg

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