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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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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. season — of the year
  3. mate — to breed
  4. can — to be able to
  5. game — wild animals
  6. can — a tin
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. game — a match
  9. mate — a partner
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. can — a tin
  14. season — in sport
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. tube — a container
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mate — a friend
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. tube — the underground

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