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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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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: rock · jam · shower · bay · bank · chest · bore · key

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. shower — rain
  3. bore — to drill
  4. shower — to wash
  5. key — the most important part
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rock — music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. rock — a stone
  11. chest — a box
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. chest — of your body
  15. bank — for money
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. bank — for money
  18. bore — to tire
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. key — in music
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. bank — of a river
  24. chest — of your body

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