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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: spell · deal · cabinet · press · firm · shower · jam · fan

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. press — to push
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. shower — rain
  5. deal — to handle
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. press — a publisher
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. firm — steady
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. shower — to wash
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. firm — decided
  16. spell — a short time
  17. firm — a company
  18. spell — letters
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. spell — magic
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. press — newspapers

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