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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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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: net · root · can · mug · shower · wound · stand · face

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. wound — an injury
  4. stand — to bear
  5. face — to point toward
  6. mug — a cup
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. wound — an injury
  9. shower — rain
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. net — in sport
  12. net — after costs
  13. face — part of the head
  14. root — of a plant
  15. net — for catching
  16. root — the cause
  17. can — a tin
  18. shower — to wash
  19. face — to confront
  20. root — of a word
  21. mug — a face
  22. mug — to rob
  23. can — to be able to
  24. can — a tin

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