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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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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. file — a tool
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. file — a document
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. season — in sport
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. branch — a division
  18. season — of the year
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. file — a line of people
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. rush — hurry

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