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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: toast · court · foot · charge · can · safe · bark · fan

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. charge — in control
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. foot — a measure
  8. bark — to shout
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. toast — bread
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. charge — electricity
  18. court — for sport
  19. charge — a price
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. court — of law
  22. court — of a king
  23. can — to be able to
  24. fan — a supporter

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