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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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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. fine — all right
  4. chair — a leader
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. rock — a stone
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. prune — to trim
  15. prune — to trim
  16. stem — to come from
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fine — high quality
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. mouse — the animal

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