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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 116 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: mug · bore · shower · mark · mouse · spell · cue · patient

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. shower — rain
  4. spell — a short time
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mug — a cup
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. bore — to tire
  10. bore — to drill
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. mug — to rob
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. shower — to wash
  17. spell — magic
  18. cue — for pool
  19. mug — a face
  20. mark — a trace
  21. mark — a grade
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. cue — a hint
  24. cue — a signal

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