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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. press — to push
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. rush — hurry
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. lie — to recline
  9. press — newspapers
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. cell — a phone
  14. cell — in biology
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. shower — rain
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. shower — to wash
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. press — a publisher

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