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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 116 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 · mine · rock · stem · can · safe · bear · leaves

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. bear — the animal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. rock — a stone
  8. can — to be able to
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rock — music
  11. can — a tin
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. mine — for digging
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bear — the animal
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. can — a tin
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. stem — to come from

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