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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: fine · fan · pit · suit · staff · current · mug · date

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. mug — to rob
  3. pit — a hole
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. staff — employees
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. staff — a stick
  8. pit — in a race
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. current — electric
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. date — the fruit
  13. fine — all right
  14. current — of water
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. suit — in cards
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. suit — to fit
  20. staff — employees
  21. current — happening now
  22. suit — clothes
  23. fine — high quality
  24. mug — a face

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