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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: nail · shower · rush · can · present · bass · mouse · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. shower — to wash
  5. present — the time now
  6. can — a tin
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. foot — a measure
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. shower — rain
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. bass — low music
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. present — there
  20. bass — the fish
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rush — hurry
  24. present — a gift

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