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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
468
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: roll · fine · degree · squash · cabinet · rock · fan · can

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. fine — high quality
  3. can — to be able to
  4. rock — a stone
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. can — a tin
  7. degree — from a university
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. degree — temperature
  12. squash — the sport
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. roll — a cake
  15. degree — an amount
  16. squash — to crush
  17. roll — a list
  18. fine — all right
  19. can — a tin
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. rock — music

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