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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. saw — the tool
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. saw — the tool
  5. can — to be able to
  6. can — a tin
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. season — in sport
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. mug — a face
  13. can — a tin
  14. mug — to rob
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. mug — a cup
  19. sharp — clever
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. chip — to eat
  22. deal — to handle
  23. chip — for betting
  24. fan — to cool the air

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