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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. key — for a lock
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. content — the amount
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. can — a tin
  8. wind — to turn a key
  9. key — in music
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. content — happy
  12. stand — to bear
  13. saw — the tool
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. pass — a permit
  17. wind — moving air
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. key — the most important part
  20. can — to be able to
  21. saw — the tool
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. wind — moving air

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