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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  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. fan — a supporter
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. firm — steady
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. firm — a company
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. root — the cause
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. root — of a plant
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. wake — a trail
  16. rock — a stone
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. root — of a word
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rock — music
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. firm — decided
  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