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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.

Make a worksheet

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: cabinet · shower · temple · lash · mug · current · wind · fine

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. wind — moving air
  3. mug — to rob
  4. mug — a face
  5. wind — moving air
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. fine — high quality
  8. shower — to wash
  9. current — happening now
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. mug — a cup
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. current — of water
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. current — electric
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. fine — all right
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  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