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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: cue · rock · cabinet · firm · rush · squash · sharp · shower

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. rush — hurry
  3. sharp — clever
  4. squash — to crush
  5. cue — a hint
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. cue — a signal
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. firm — a company
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. shower — to wash
  16. rock — a stone
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. firm — steady
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cue — for pool
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. firm — decided
  23. squash — the sport
  24. rock — music

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