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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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. can — to be able to
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. rock — a stone
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pitch — completely
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. staff — employees
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. can — a tin
  13. staff — a stick
  14. row — to paddle
  15. staff — employees
  16. season — of the year
  17. bound — obliged
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. bound — certain
  20. season — in sport
  21. bound — tied together
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. can — a tin
  24. rock — music

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