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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: rush · foot · hide · shower · net · pass · wave · jam

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. pass — a permit
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. net — in sport
  10. rush — hurry
  11. net — after costs
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. shower — to wash
  14. foot — a measure
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. net — for catching
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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