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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. stand — to bear
  4. can — to be able to
  5. can — a tin
  6. scale — in music
  7. rest — what's left
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. season — in sport
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. roll — a list
  14. can — a tin
  15. rest — what's left
  16. roll — a cake
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. scale — size or range
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. rest — a break
  21. wake — a trail
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. season — of the year

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