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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. pop — soda
  4. rash — hasty
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. board — a committee
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. rash — a series
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. club — for dancing
  12. can — a tin
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bear — the animal
  16. can — a tin
  17. season — of the year
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. club — a group
  20. club — for golf
  21. pop — to visit
  22. can — to be able to
  23. pop — music
  24. board — to get on

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