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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 120 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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. board — a committee
  3. season — in sport
  4. season — of the year
  5. ball — a dance
  6. can — a tin
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. prune — to trim
  9. can — to be able to
  10. board — to get on
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. content — the amount
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. can — a tin
  18. ball — a great time
  19. content — happy
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. prune — to trim
  22. bank — of a river
  23. stand — to bear
  24. bank — for money

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