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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: ball · perch · suit · charge · rush · fan · face · object

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. suit — in cards
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. ball — a dance
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rush — hurry
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. suit — clothes
  14. charge — in control
  15. perch — the fish
  16. ball — a great time
  17. object — an aim
  18. charge — electricity
  19. face — to confront
  20. face — to point toward
  21. face — part of the head
  22. object — to protest
  23. object — a thing
  24. charge — a price

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