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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: court · mouse · safe · fine · bore · lean · press · fan

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. lean — thin
  4. press — newspapers
  5. court — of law
  6. fine — all right
  7. press — a publisher
  8. bore — to drill
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. bore — to tire
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. fine — high quality
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. court — of a king
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. press — to push
  20. lean — to bend
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. court — for sport
  24. fine — a penalty

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