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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. rest — what's left
  4. can — a tin
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. wake — a trail
  8. rest — what's left
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. rest — a break
  11. can — a tin
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. season — of the year
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. suit — clothes
  16. ball — a dance
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. ball — a great time
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. season — in sport
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — in cards
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. ball — a round shape

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