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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
468
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: bulb · rest · spell · pass · shower · kick · leaves · ball

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. rest — what's left
  3. bulb — for light
  4. spell — magic
  5. rest — what's left
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. ball — a dance
  11. spell — a short time
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. ball — a great time
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. kick — in football
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. shower — rain
  20. rest — a break
  21. spell — letters
  22. shower — to wash
  23. pass — a permit
  24. kick — a thrill

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