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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: last · file · foot · march · shower · mouse · bowl · cabinet

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. last — to go on
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. shower — rain
  6. last — finally
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. file — a tool
  9. foot — a measure
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. march — the month
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. march — the month
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. march — music
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. last — final
  21. file — a document
  22. file — a line of people
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. shower — to wash

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