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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: arm · nail · cap · wake · fine · suit · pop · fan

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. fine — all right
  6. pop — to visit
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. fine — high quality
  9. cap — a hat
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. suit — to fit
  13. suit — clothes
  14. pop — music
  15. pop — soda
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. cap — of ice
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. cap — a lid
  23. wake — a trail
  24. fine — a penalty

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