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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: fine · toast · roll · leaves · can · fan · sharp · temple

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fine — high quality
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. can — to be able to
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. sharp — clever
  10. roll — a cake
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. fine — all right
  15. roll — a list
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. can — a tin
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. toast — bread
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. sharp — exactly

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