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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. pit — a hole
  3. file — a tool
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. season — of the year
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. file — a document
  13. suit — to fit
  14. file — a line of people
  15. suit — in cards
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. pit — in a race
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. season — in sport
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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