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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: rock · hide · net · can · wake · pass · ball · leaves

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. pass — a permit
  3. can — a tin
  4. net — for catching
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. wake — a trail
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. can — to be able to
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. can — a tin
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. ball — a dance
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. rock — a stone
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. ball — a great time
  18. net — after costs
  19. rock — music
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. net — in sport
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. hide — animal skin

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