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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 124 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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. saw — the tool
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bear — the animal
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. wound — an injury
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. saw — the tool
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bear — the animal
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. wound — an injury
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. safe — a strongbox

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