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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: can · object · game · nail · fan · face · rush · pit

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. pit — a hole
  4. object — a thing
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. can — a tin
  7. face — to confront
  8. game — wild animals
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. face — to point toward
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. can — to be able to
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. face — part of the head
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. pit — in a race
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. rush — hurry
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. can — a tin
  22. object — an aim
  23. object — to protest
  24. game — a kind of play

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