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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: nail · calf · pit · fine · cell · pass · bulb · fan

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. cell — a phone
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bulb — for light
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fine — high quality
  12. pass — a permit
  13. fine — all right
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bulb — for light
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. cell — in biology
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. pit — in a race
  22. pit — a hole
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. pass — to succeed

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