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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: pass · shower · dip · rush · face · kid · toast · season

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. season — in sport
  3. pass — a permit
  4. kid — to tease
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. season — of the year
  8. kid — child
  9. face — to point toward
  10. face — to confront
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. face — part of the head
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. shower — rain
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rush — hurry
  22. toast — bread
  23. shower — to wash
  24. dip — to dunk

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