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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: key · season · leaves · fan · rush · can · hide · pop

  1. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. rush — hurry
  4. can — a tin
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. pop — soda
  7. key — in music
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. key — the most important part
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. key — for a lock
  14. season — of the year
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. pop — to visit
  17. pop — music
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. season — in sport
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. leaves — lets stay

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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