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

Word bank: bore · deal · cabinet · fork · cell · rest · shower · bear

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bear — the animal
  4. rest — what's left
  5. bear — the animal
  6. cell — in biology
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. cell — a phone
  9. shower — rain
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. deal — to handle
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. shower — to wash
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. rest — what's left
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. bore — to drill
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. rest — a break
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. bore — to tire

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