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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 120 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: mouse · shower · season · row · rest · lean · rash · stand

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. rash — a series
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. shower — rain
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. rash — hasty
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. season — of the year
  12. row — to paddle
  13. rest — what's left
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. row — a line
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. season — in sport
  18. shower — to wash
  19. lean — thin
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. lean — to bend
  23. stand — to bear
  24. rest — a break

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