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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. suit — clothes
  3. ground — the earth
  4. scale — in music
  5. can — a tin
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. scale — size or range
  8. can — a tin
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. spell — letters
  12. ground — crushed
  13. bank — for money
  14. suit — to fit
  15. spell — a short time
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. ground — a position
  18. bank — for money
  19. bank — of a river
  20. pass — a permit
  21. spell — magic
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. suit — in cards
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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