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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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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: pass · deal · ruler · mark · toast · shower · wave · bulb

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. shower — to wash
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. toast — bread
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. mark — a grade
  11. deal — to handle
  12. shower — rain
  13. bulb — for light
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. pass — a permit
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. bulb — for light
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. mark — to pay attention

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