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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. board — a committee
  3. season — of the year
  4. present — there
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. board — to get on
  7. can — to be able to
  8. can — a tin
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. squash — to crush
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. present — the time now
  14. season — in sport
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. squash — the sport
  21. mine — for digging
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. can — a tin
  24. lash — to lash out

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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