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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. tube — a container
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. tube — the underground
  11. mark — a trace
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. firm — decided
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. firm — steady

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