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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. spell — a short time
  7. spell — letters
  8. season — of the year
  9. season — in sport
  10. mark — a grade
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. key — for a lock
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. lie — to recline
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — in music
  21. spell — magic
  22. craft — boats
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. craft — a skill

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