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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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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: mug · net · fan · fall · jam · season · cabinet · track

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. track — a song
  5. mug — a face
  6. mug — to rob
  7. track — a path
  8. season — of the year
  9. net — for catching
  10. track — to keep track
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. mug — a cup
  15. net — after costs
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. season — in sport
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. net — in sport
  20. fall — the season
  21. fall — to drop
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fall — to drop
  24. fan — a supporter

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