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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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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. board — to get on
  3. season — of the year
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. chip — to eat
  6. can — to be able to
  7. board — a committee
  8. net — after costs
  9. pop — soda
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. net — in sport
  12. season — in sport
  13. staff — employees
  14. staff — employees
  15. prune — to trim
  16. prune — to trim
  17. net — for catching
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. staff — a stick
  23. chip — for betting
  24. pop — to visit

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