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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. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. key — for a lock
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. rock — music
  7. suit — in cards
  8. club — for golf
  9. rock — a stone
  10. key — in music
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. club — for dancing
  15. club — a group
  16. suit — to fit
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. cell — in biology
  19. suit — clothes
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. key — the most important part
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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