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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
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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: lean · safe · rush · suit · can · fan · leaves · wound

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. wound — an injury
  8. lean — thin
  9. can — a tin
  10. wound — an injury
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. rush — hurry
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. suit — in cards
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. suit — to fit
  18. lean — to bend
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. suit — clothes
  22. can — to be able to
  23. can — a tin
  24. fan — to cool the air

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