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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 116 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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. pass — a permit
  4. net — for catching
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. can — a tin
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. net — after costs
  9. rock — a stone
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. pit — a hole
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. board — to get on
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. pit — in a race
  18. rock — music
  19. board — a committee
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. can — a tin
  22. rush — hurry
  23. net — in sport
  24. rush — to hurry

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