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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 116 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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fall — the season
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. fork — in a road
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fall — to drop
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. rash — hasty
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bark — to shout
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. fall — to drop
  24. rash — on the skin

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