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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: net · shower · toast · object · suit · bark · fall · can

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. suit — to fit
  3. fall — to drop
  4. object — to protest
  5. suit — clothes
  6. object — a thing
  7. net — in sport
  8. shower — to wash
  9. net — for catching
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. can — a tin
  12. suit — in cards
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. can — a tin
  15. fall — to drop
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. fall — the season
  18. object — an aim
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. net — after costs
  21. can — to be able to
  22. shower — rain
  23. toast — bread
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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