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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 120 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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. can — a tin
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. lean — thin
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. can — a tin
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. lean — to bend
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pass — a permit
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. file — a line of people
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. file — a tool
  23. file — a document
  24. fan — a supporter

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