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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: foot · mark · fan · wake · rest · swing · key · cabinet

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. swing — to play on
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. mark — a trace
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. rest — a break
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. key — for a lock
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. swing — in golf
  13. key — the most important part
  14. mark — a grade
  15. foot — a measure
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. key — in music
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. swing — music
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rest — what's left

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