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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 · pass · suit · dip · toast · nail · deal · clip

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. clip — for paper
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. suit — to fit
  6. suit — clothes
  7. deal — to handle
  8. clip — a video
  9. shower — rain
  10. shower — to wash
  11. suit — in cards
  12. pass — a permit
  13. clip — to cut
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. dip — to sink
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. toast — bread

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