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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: cabinet · fork · can · arm · dip · shower · mouse · ruler

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. shower — to wash
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. fork — in a road
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. can — a tin
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. dip — to sink
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. can — a tin
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. shower — rain
  20. can — to be able to
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. mouse — the animal

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