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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: shower · key · march · calf · cue · fan · dip · can

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. shower — rain
  4. march — the month
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. cue — a hint
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. can — a tin
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. can — to be able to
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. shower — to wash
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. cue — for pool
  15. key — for a lock
  16. march — the month
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. can — a tin
  19. cue — a signal
  20. march — music
  21. key — the most important part
  22. dip — to sink
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. fan — a supporter

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