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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 116 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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. band — a ring
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. march — music
  6. perch — the fish
  7. band — a music group
  8. suit — in cards
  9. saw — the tool
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. lean — to bend
  12. lean — thin
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. march — the month
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. saw — the tool
  20. suit — to fit
  21. deal — to handle
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. suit — clothes
  24. fan — a supporter

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