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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. deal — to handle
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bear — the animal
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. net — in sport
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. band — a ring
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. net — for catching
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. mark — a grade
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. net — after costs
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. band — a music group
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. deal — an agreement

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