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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 116 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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. can — to be able to
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. board — to get on
  7. rest — a break
  8. rest — what's left
  9. season — of the year
  10. rest — what's left
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — a tin
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pop — music
  17. pop — to visit
  18. board — a committee
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. perch — the fish
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. season — in sport
  24. pop — soda

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