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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. present — the time now
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. net — in sport
  7. last — finally
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. rest — a break
  10. kick — in football
  11. net — for catching
  12. present — there
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. rest — what's left
  17. present — a gift
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. rest — what's left
  20. net — after costs
  21. last — to go on
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. last — final

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