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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. season — of the year
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — music
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. season — in sport
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rock — a stone
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. spell — magic
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. spell — letters
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. snap — to click
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. cabinet — ministers

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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