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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. club — for dancing
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. saw — the tool
  8. club — for golf
  9. sharp — clever
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. spell — a short time
  13. spell — letters
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. spell — magic
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. club — a group
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. saw — the tool
  24. jam — in traffic

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