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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. rest — what's left
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. rest — a break
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. ball — a dance
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. content — happy
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. content — the amount
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. rest — what's left
  16. ball — a great time
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. stand — to bear
  19. wound — an injury
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. can — to be able to
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. wound — an injury
  24. can — a tin

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