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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. bound — certain
  7. season — in sport
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. bound — obliged
  11. fork — in a road
  12. branch — a division
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. bound — tied together
  17. can — a tin
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. season — of the year

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