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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. game — a match
  8. suit — to fit
  9. game — wild animals
  10. bulb — for light
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. perch — the fish
  13. suit — in cards
  14. cue — for pool
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. cap — of ice
  18. suit — clothes
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. cue — a hint
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. cue — a signal
  23. cap — a lid
  24. cap — a hat

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