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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: cabinet · fall · dip · calf · mug · can · fan · leaves

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. mug — to rob
  3. can — a tin
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. mug — a cup
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. fall — the season
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. mug — a face
  12. fall — to drop
  13. dip — to sink
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. can — a tin
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. can — to be able to
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fall — to drop

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