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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. can — to be able to
  5. wake — a trail
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. board — to get on
  8. stock — shares
  9. wound — an injury
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. current — happening now
  13. stock — goods
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. current — of water
  18. wound — an injury
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. current — electric
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. board — a committee
  24. can — a tin

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