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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: wake · board · last · kick · row · season · can · hide

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. last — finally
  4. row — to paddle
  5. board — a committee
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. can — a tin
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. season — of the year
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. board — to get on
  14. can — a tin
  15. last — final
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. season — in sport
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. row — a line
  21. last — to go on
  22. kick — in football
  23. can — to be able to
  24. season — to add flavour

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