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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. object — to protest
  3. can — to be able to
  4. band — a ring
  5. can — a tin
  6. mate — a friend
  7. band — a music group
  8. suit — clothes
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. mate — to breed
  11. mate — a partner
  12. fork — in a road
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. suit — in cards
  15. suit — to fit
  16. can — a tin
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. object — a thing
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. season — of the year
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. season — in sport

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