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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
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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: firm · shower · present · ball · charge · jam · cabinet · arm

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. ball — a dance
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. charge — electricity
  5. present — the time now
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. shower — to wash
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. charge — a price
  12. firm — steady
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. ball — a great time
  15. charge — in control
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. firm — a company
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. shower — rain
  20. present — a gift
  21. firm — decided
  22. present — there
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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