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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. can — a tin
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. sharp — clever
  6. can — a tin
  7. prune — to trim
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. can — to be able to
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. prune — to trim
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. board — to get on
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. board — a committee
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. sharp — with an edge

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