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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 120 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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. board — a committee
  5. mate — to breed
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. mate — a partner
  8. scale — size or range
  9. rock — music
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. fall — the season
  12. can — a tin
  13. fall — to drop
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. board — to get on
  16. scale — in music
  17. rock — a stone
  18. fall — to drop
  19. mate — a friend
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. can — to be able to
  24. racket — a loud noise

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