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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. deal — to handle
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. firm — steady
  12. tube — a container
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. press — to push
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. tube — the underground
  17. press — newspapers
  18. firm — a company
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. firm — decided
  22. press — a publisher
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. fan — to cool the 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