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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.

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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 · object · wake · fan · bowl · file · mug · toast

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. mug — a face
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. wake — a trail
  6. file — a tool
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. file — a line of people
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. object — an aim
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. mug — a cup
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. file — a document
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. mug — to rob
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. rush — hurry
  22. object — a thing
  23. toast — bread
  24. object — to protest

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