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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: saw · nail · march · leaves · fan · ruler · dip · can

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. can — to be able to
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. can — a tin
  10. march — the month
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. saw — the tool
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. saw — the tool
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. can — a tin
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. march — music
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. dip — to sink
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. ruler — for measuring

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