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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: coach · ruler · pitcher · season · cabinet · spell · bowl · shower

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. season — of the year
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. season — in sport
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. spell — letters
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. spell — magic
  22. shower — to wash
  23. shower — rain
  24. cabinet — ministers

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