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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: jam · bowl · squash · race · board · leaves · can · pitch

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. can — a tin
  5. pitch — completely
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. race — a contest
  9. can — to be able to
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. squash — the sport
  14. squash — to crush
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. board — a committee
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. race — humankind
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. board — to get on
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. race — the arms race

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