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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: shower · fan · track · hide · can · mug · leaves · stock

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. can — a tin
  4. stock — goods
  5. mug — a face
  6. shower — to wash
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. track — a song
  10. mug — to rob
  11. can — to be able to
  12. stock — shares
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. can — a tin
  16. mug — a cup
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. track — to keep track
  20. shower — rain
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. hide — to keep secret

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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