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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: stock · pop · object · key · bore · shower · sharp · cabinet

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bore — to tire
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. stock — goods
  6. object — a thing
  7. stock — shares
  8. object — to protest
  9. shower — to wash
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bore — to drill
  12. key — in music
  13. shower — rain
  14. key — the most important part
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. pop — soda
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. pop — to visit
  20. pop — music
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. sharp — clever
  23. object — an aim
  24. key — for a lock

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