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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: shower · bear · bowl · mug · foot · deal · pit · key

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. deal — to handle
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. shower — to wash
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. key — the most important part
  8. mug — to rob
  9. pit — in a race
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. bear — the animal
  14. pit — a hole
  15. key — in music
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. shower — rain
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. bear — the animal
  21. mug — a face
  22. key — for a lock
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. foot — part of the body

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