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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. can — a tin
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. season — of the year
  5. suit — in cards
  6. bear — the animal
  7. mate — a friend
  8. tube — a container
  9. shower — rain
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. saw — the tool
  12. mate — to breed
  13. tube — the underground
  14. suit — to fit
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. saw — the tool
  17. bear — the animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. suit — clothes
  23. shower — to wash
  24. mate — a partner

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