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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 · pass · rush · mouse · cue · fall · stock · shower

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. cue — for pool
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. fall — to drop
  7. cue — a hint
  8. shower — to wash
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. fall — the season
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. rush — hurry
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. stock — shares
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. cue — a signal
  19. pass — a permit
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. stock — goods
  22. shower — rain
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. fall — to drop

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