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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: leaves · fan · sharp · chip · kick · lie · rush · toast

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. kick — in football
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. lie — to recline
  9. chip — to eat
  10. sharp — clever
  11. toast — bread
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. rush — hurry
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. chip — for betting
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. sharp — with an edge

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