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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: mouse · mug · chip · rest · foot · pit · jam · shower

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. shower — to wash
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. rest — what's left
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. rest — a break
  8. rest — what's left
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. pit — a hole
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. chip — to eat
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. mug — a cup
  16. pit — in a race
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. mug — to rob
  21. chip — for betting
  22. mug — a face
  23. shower — rain
  24. foot — a measure

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