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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: cabinet · dip · bay · ruler · shower · present · coach · mug

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. mug — a cup
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. mug — a face
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. shower — rain
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mug — to rob
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. present — a gift
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. present — the time now
  22. dip — to sink
  23. shower — to wash
  24. present — there

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