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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. track — to keep track
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. track — a song
  5. lean — to bend
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. bear — the animal
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. lean — thin
  10. charge — a price
  11. season — in sport
  12. charge — electricity
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. charge — in control
  15. suit — in cards
  16. bear — the animal
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. season — of the year
  21. track — a path
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. suit — to fit
  24. season — to add flavour

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