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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. can — to be able to
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. fine — all right
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. rest — a break
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. rest — what's left
  12. rest — what's left
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. board — to get on
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. season — in sport
  17. can — a tin
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. can — a tin
  23. season — of the year
  24. board — a committee

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