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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. root — the cause
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. perch — the fish
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. vault — a safe
  12. root — of a plant
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. root — of a word
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. bat — in an idiom
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bat — for baseball
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bat — the animal
  23. fine — all right
  24. leaves — lets stay

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