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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. drill — the tool
  8. craft — a skill
  9. drill — army training
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. toast — bread
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. craft — boats
  19. sharp — clever
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. drill — a practice
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. sharp — exactly

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