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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. board — to get on
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. season — of the year
  7. dip — to sink
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. current — electric
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. bound — certain
  12. bound — tied together
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. current — of water
  15. craft — boats
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. board — a committee
  18. bound — obliged
  19. current — happening now
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. craft — a skill
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. season — in sport
  24. dip — a sauce

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