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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: rock · rash · present · leaves · bulb · tear · shower · mug

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  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. rock — a stone
  2. bulb — for light
  3. tear — from crying
  4. shower — rain
  5. bulb — for light
  6. present — there
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. present — a gift
  9. shower — to wash
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. tear — from crying
  13. mug — a cup
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. tear — to rip
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rash — hasty
  18. rash — a series
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. present — the time now
  21. mug — a face
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. mug — to rob
  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