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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: fan · object · sharp · bay · temple · net · firm · cap

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. object — a thing
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. net — in sport
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. object — to protest
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. object — an aim
  12. net — after costs
  13. net — for catching
  14. sharp — clever
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. firm — steady
  19. firm — a company
  20. cap — of ice
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. cap — a lid
  23. cap — a hat
  24. fan — a supporter

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