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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stick · row · rest · cap · nail · can · season · mine

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. season — in sport
  3. can — to be able to
  4. cap — a lid
  5. row — a line
  6. mine — for digging
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. cap — a hat
  10. row — to paddle
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — a break
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. rest — what's left
  19. cap — of ice
  20. can — a tin
  21. season — of the year
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. can — a tin
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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