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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. deal — to handle
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. lie — to recline
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. charge — a price
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. roll — a cake
  15. charge — electricity
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. charge — in control
  18. rush — hurry
  19. roll — a list
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. plane — a tool
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. bowl — a dish

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