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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. can — a tin
  3. pop — to visit
  4. can — a tin
  5. board — to get on
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. pop — music
  10. ball — a great time
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. can — to be able to
  14. pop — soda
  15. board — a committee
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. rock — music
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. ball — a dance
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. rock — a stone

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