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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. can — a tin
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. net — after costs
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. charge — electricity
  7. can — to be able to
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. roll — a list
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. season — in sport
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. craft — boats
  15. season — of the year
  16. charge — a price
  17. can — a tin
  18. craft — a skill
  19. net — for catching
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. charge — in control
  23. net — in sport
  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