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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wound — an injury
  4. can — a tin
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. cue — a signal
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. firm — a company
  11. cue — a hint
  12. cue — for pool
  13. board — a committee
  14. firm — decided
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. board — to get on
  17. can — to be able to
  18. firm — steady

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