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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: fan · leaves · suit · board · hide · tube · current · rest

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. suit — in cards
  4. tube — the underground
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. board — a committee
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. current — electric
  9. rest — a break
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. rest — what's left
  12. suit — to fit
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. tube — a container
  15. rest — what's left
  16. current — happening now
  17. current — of water
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. board — to get on
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. suit — clothes

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