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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
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: leaves · mug · cap · date · safe · fork · can · fan

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. cap — a hat
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. can — to be able to
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. can — a tin
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. cap — of ice
  10. mug — a cup
  11. can — a tin
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. date — the fruit
  14. mug — a face
  15. fork — in a road
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. cap — a lid
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. mug — to rob
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. safe — out of danger

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