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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. can — a tin
  3. net — after costs
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. bound — tied together
  6. can — a tin
  7. mate — to breed
  8. board — to get on
  9. board — a committee
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. bound — certain
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. mate — a partner
  17. net — in sport
  18. can — to be able to
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. ball — a great time
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. net — for catching
  23. mate — a friend
  24. bound — obliged

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