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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 am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  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. fan — a supporter
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. can — a tin
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. pit — a hole
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. cap — a lid
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. pit — in a race
  14. craft — a skill
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. cap — a hat
  19. can — to be able to
  20. cap — of ice
  21. craft — boats
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. can — a tin
  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