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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. wind — moving air
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. mug — a cup
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. mug — a face
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. wind — moving air
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. mug — to rob
  24. wind — to turn a key

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