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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.

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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: rush · rock · ball · bowl · bear · fan · fine · chair

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. fine — high quality
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. ball — a great time
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. rock — music
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. chair — a leader
  13. ball — a dance
  14. bear — the animal
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. fine — all right
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rock — a stone
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. bear — the animal

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