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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  16. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. can — a tin
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. pit — a hole
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. lean — thin
  7. rush — hurry
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. tear — from crying
  12. mark — a grade
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. lean — to bend
  15. tear — to rip
  16. tear — from crying
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mark — a trace
  24. fan — a supporter

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