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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: row · object · fan · mine · mouse · key · leaves · dip

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  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. dip — a sauce
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. object — to protest
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. dip — to sink
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. mine — for digging
  12. object — an aim
  13. row — to paddle
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. key — the most important part
  18. key — in music
  19. key — for a lock
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. object — a thing
  22. row — a line
  23. mouse — for a computer
  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