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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: bowl · dip · wax · hide · leaves · shower · rock · game

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. rock — a stone
  5. game — a match
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. rock — music
  9. shower — rain
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. shower — to wash
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. game — wild animals
  18. dip — to sink
  19. wax — to grow
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. bowl — a football final

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