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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.

Make a worksheet

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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Word bank
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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. can — a tin
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. can — to be able to
  8. can — a tin
  9. dip — to sink
  10. suit — clothes
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. season — of the year
  13. mine — for digging
  14. wind — moving air
  15. roll — a list
  16. suit — to fit
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. wind — moving air
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. season — in sport
  22. suit — in cards
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. roll — a cake

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