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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. fine — high quality
  4. can — to be able to
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. can — a tin
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. bear — the animal
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. stem — to come from
  16. plane — a tool
  17. can — a tin
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. fine — all right
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. bear — the animal

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