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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mouse · pop · content · mark · arm · board · shower · mate

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mate — to breed
  4. board — to get on
  5. mark — a grade
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. shower — to wash
  9. pop — music
  10. pop — soda
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. mark — a trace
  14. content — happy
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. content — the amount
  17. board — a committee
  18. shower — rain
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. pop — to visit
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. mate — a partner
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. mate — a friend

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