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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. rock — a stone
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. rock — music
  5. fall — to drop
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. object — an aim
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. track — a song
  10. track — to keep track
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. fall — to drop
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fall — the season
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. track — a path
  21. foot — a measure
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. object — to protest

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