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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.

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: can · season · hide · board · suit · ball · stock · degree

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. suit — clothes
  3. degree — temperature
  4. season — in sport
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. can — a tin
  7. stock — goods
  8. can — a tin
  9. board — a committee
  10. can — to be able to
  11. season — of the year
  12. suit — to fit
  13. suit — in cards
  14. degree — an amount
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. ball — a great time
  19. board — to get on
  20. degree — from a university
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. ball — a dance
  24. hide — to keep secret

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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