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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. hand — help
  3. can — a tin
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bore — to tire
  6. can — to be able to
  7. spring — of water
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. season — of the year
  10. hand — in cards
  11. can — a tin
  12. suit — in cards
  13. board — to get on
  14. board — a committee
  15. spring — a coil
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. suit — clothes
  19. spring — the season
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. season — in sport
  22. foot — a measure
  23. bore — to drill
  24. foot — the bottom

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