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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. stand — to bear
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. ball — a great time
  6. ball — a dance
  7. key — in music
  8. suit — to fit
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. field — for sport
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. key — for a lock
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. key — the most important part
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. suit — clothes
  21. field — farmland
  22. suit — in cards
  23. field — a subject
  24. nail — on a finger

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