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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: mug · band · track · foot · sharp · can · shower · cabinet

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. band — a ring
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. can — a tin
  5. mug — to rob
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mug — a face
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. can — a tin
  12. shower — rain
  13. track — to keep track
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. band — a music group
  16. can — to be able to
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. shower — to wash
  19. track — a song
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. mug — a cup
  22. foot — a measure
  23. track — a path
  24. sharp — clever

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