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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 · stick · ball · mug · foot · rash · stem · object

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. stem — to come from
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. mug — to rob
  6. shower — to wash
  7. ball — a great time
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. object — a thing
  11. shower — rain
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. ball — a dance
  14. rash — hasty
  15. object — an aim
  16. foot — a measure
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. mug — a cup
  20. object — to protest
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. rash — a series
  23. mug — a face
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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