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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. bank — for money
  6. fine — high quality
  7. bank — of a river
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. chip — to eat
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fine — all right
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. chip — for betting
  15. rash — a series
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. rush — hurry
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. rash — hasty
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bank — for money

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