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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: calf · object · rush · row · nail · mug · fan · shower

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. shower — to wash
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mug — a face
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. row — a line
  13. mug — a cup
  14. object — an aim
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. object — a thing
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rush — hurry
  20. object — to protest
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. row — to paddle
  24. shower — a meteor shower

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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