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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 116 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 · mark · deal · can · bulb · ruler · face · cap

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. mark — a trace
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. cap — a lid
  6. face — to confront
  7. deal — to handle
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. can — to be able to
  10. cap — of ice
  11. mark — a grade
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. face — part of the head
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. cap — a hat
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. can — a tin
  21. bulb — for light
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. face — to point toward
  24. can — a tin

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