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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.

Make a worksheet

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: fine · fan · bear · net · rest · date · fork · suit

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. bear — the animal
  3. net — after costs
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. suit — to fit
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. net — in sport
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. rest — a break
  11. rest — what's left
  12. suit — in cards
  13. fine — high quality
  14. fork — in a road
  15. fine — all right
  16. bear — the animal
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. suit — clothes
  22. net — for catching
  23. date — the fruit
  24. fork — to eat with

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