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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
468
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: bore · lash · shower · nail · bank · face · root · fan

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. bank — for money
  3. shower — rain
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. shower — to wash
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. face — part of the head
  8. face — to point toward
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. root — of a plant
  11. bank — for money
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. face — to confront
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. root — the cause
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. bore — to drill
  23. root — of a word
  24. bore — to tire

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