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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · can · mark · tube · season · fan · cabinet · content

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. mark — a trace
  4. can — a tin
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. season — in sport
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. content — happy
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. season — of the year
  13. can — a tin
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. mark — a grade
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. tube — a container
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. content — the amount
  23. tube — the underground
  24. fan — to cool the air

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