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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
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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: bear · lash · cue · pitcher · present · temple · mate · shower

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  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. bear — to put up with
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. shower — to wash
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. cue — a signal
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. mate — to breed
  10. shower — rain
  11. present — the time now
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. bear — the animal
  14. present — there
  15. present — a gift
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. bear — the animal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. mate — a partner
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. cue — a hint
  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