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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 116 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: calf · deal · shower · bound · court · rest · rock · kick

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. rock — a stone
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. court — for sport
  6. rest — a break
  7. bound — certain
  8. bound — obliged
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. court — of a king
  13. bound — tied together
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. kick — in football
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. court — of law
  19. shower — to wash
  20. shower — rain
  21. rest — what's left
  22. deal — to handle
  23. rock — music
  24. rest — what's left

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