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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: leaves · key · cap · pitcher · lie · hide · fan · fine

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. key — in music
  4. cap — a lid
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. cap — of ice
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. cap — a hat
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. fine — high quality
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. key — the most important part
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. key — for a lock
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. lie — to recline
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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