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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. plane — a tool
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. band — a music group
  5. object — a thing
  6. spell — a short time
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. object — to protest
  9. band — a ring
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. season — of the year
  17. spell — letters
  18. spell — magic
  19. face — to point toward
  20. face — part of the head
  21. object — an aim
  22. face — to confront
  23. season — in sport
  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