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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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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. bank — for money
  3. mug — a cup
  4. mug — to rob
  5. rush — hurry
  6. present — the time now
  7. season — of the year
  8. present — there
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. spell — magic
  11. spell — a short time
  12. spring — of water
  13. season — in sport
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. bank — of a river
  16. mug — a face
  17. spring — the season
  18. bank — for money
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. present — a gift
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. spring — a coil
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. spell — letters

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