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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 120 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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. deal — to handle
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. pass — a permit
  24. deal — an agreement

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