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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. wake — a trail
  3. net — for catching
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. net — after costs
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. net — in sport
  12. season — of the year
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mug — a cup
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. season — in sport
  23. fork — in a road
  24. bowl — to roll

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