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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. bound — certain
  7. fall — to drop
  8. cap — a hat
  9. season — in sport
  10. bound — obliged
  11. cap — of ice
  12. fall — the season
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cap — a lid
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. bound — tied together
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. lie — to recline
  22. pitch — completely
  23. season — of the year
  24. fall — to drop

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