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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: pop · shower · can · pitcher · ruler · game · plane · press

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. press — to push
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. pop — to visit
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. press — a publisher
  12. plane — a tool
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. game — wild animals
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. pop — music
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. game — a match
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. pop — soda
  22. shower — to wash
  23. shower — rain
  24. press — newspapers

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