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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. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. capital — money
  3. net — for catching
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. suit — to fit
  6. capital — a city
  7. net — in sport
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bear — the animal
  11. net — after costs
  12. bear — the animal
  13. rush — hurry
  14. lie — to recline
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. cell — a phone
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. capital — a big letter
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. cell — in biology
  22. suit — in cards
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. rush — a thrill

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