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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. rash — a series
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. face — to point toward
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. stem — to come from
  10. spell — letters
  11. spell — magic
  12. stock — goods
  13. rash — hasty
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stock — shares
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. face — to confront
  22. face — part of the head
  23. spell — a short time
  24. safe — out of danger

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