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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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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: can · toast · last · pit · bear · rash · nail · season

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. bear — the animal
  3. can — a tin
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. season — in sport
  7. bear — the animal
  8. can — a tin
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. can — to be able to
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. rash — a series
  17. rash — hasty
  18. season — of the year
  19. last — finally
  20. pit — a hole
  21. last — to go on
  22. last — final
  23. pit — in a race
  24. toast — bread

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