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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 120 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 · calf · cue · fan · cabinet · pop · mug · object

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. shower — rain
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. cue — for pool
  7. object — an aim
  8. shower — to wash
  9. cue — a hint
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. mug — to rob
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. pop — music
  14. object — to protest
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. cue — a signal
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. mug — a cup
  20. mug — a face
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. pop — soda
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. pop — to visit

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