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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. rock — a stone
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. rest — what's left
  5. can — a tin
  6. club — a group
  7. rock — music
  8. rest — what's left
  9. bound — tied together
  10. bound — obliged
  11. saw — the tool
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. rest — a break
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bound — certain
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. can — to be able to
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. pitch — completely
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. club — for golf
  24. club — for dancing

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