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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. rush — hurry
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bore — to tire
  5. cap — a hat
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. fork — in a road
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mug — a cup
  13. cap — a lid
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. bore — to drill
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. mug — a face
  19. cap — of ice
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. sharp — clever
  24. bore — gave birth

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