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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. chip — for betting
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. mug — a face
  6. mug — to rob
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. last — finally
  10. root — of a word
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. chip — to eat
  13. face — part of the head
  14. vault — a safe
  15. face — to point toward
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. last — to go on
  18. mug — a cup
  19. face — to confront
  20. root — the cause
  21. last — final
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. root — of a plant

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