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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 120 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. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. mug — to rob
  3. spring — the season
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. suit — in cards
  6. bass — the fish
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. suit — clothes
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. mug — a face
  14. saw — the tool
  15. mug — a cup
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. spring — a coil
  18. spring — of water
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bass — low music
  24. suit — to fit

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