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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. rock — a stone
  5. object — an aim
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. object — to protest
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bulb — for light
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. fine — high quality
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. fine — all right
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. rock — music
  22. wind — moving air
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. wind — moving air

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