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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. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. track — a song
  3. track — to keep track
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. swing — in golf
  10. stand — to bear
  11. can — a tin
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. can — a tin
  14. swing — to play on
  15. squash — the sport
  16. season — in sport
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. can — to be able to
  19. swing — music
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. track — a path
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. season — of the year
  24. stand — for spectators

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