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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. deal — to handle
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. fork — in a road
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bulb — for light
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. lean — to bend
  24. sharp — clever

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