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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. mark — a grade
  5. staff — a stick
  6. season — in sport
  7. face — part of the head
  8. mug — to rob
  9. charge — a price
  10. face — to point toward
  11. pop — soda
  12. face — to confront
  13. charge — in control
  14. mark — a trace
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. pop — music
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. charge — electricity
  19. mug — a cup
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — employees
  22. pop — to visit
  23. mug — a face
  24. season — of the year

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