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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 120 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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. scale — in music
  3. spell — letters
  4. root — the cause
  5. bound — tied together
  6. season — of the year
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. scale — size or range
  9. spell — magic
  10. kick — in football
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. pound — to hit hard
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. bound — certain
  15. pound — a weight
  16. can — a tin
  17. root — of a word
  18. root — of a plant
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. spell — a short time
  22. bound — obliged
  23. can — to be able to
  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