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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: present · foot · snap · bore · key · fan · suit · charge

  1. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. present — there
  5. suit — in cards
  6. key — in music
  7. key — the most important part
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. charge — a price
  11. present — a gift
  12. charge — electricity
  13. foot — a measure
  14. suit — clothes
  15. bore — to drill
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. charge — in control
  18. bore — to tire
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. suit — to fit
  21. snap — to click
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. present — the time now
  24. key — for a lock

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