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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. stand — to bear
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. can — a tin
  10. charge — electricity
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. charge — in control
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. mine — for digging
  17. charge — a price
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. can — to be able to
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. rush — hurry
  23. can — a tin
  24. wave — with your hand

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