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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: can · bay · board · degree · bowl · fan · ball · bear

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. can — to be able to
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. bear — the animal
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. degree — an amount
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. board — to get on
  10. degree — temperature
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. ball — a great time
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. can — a tin
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. degree — from a university
  20. ball — a dance
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. can — a tin
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. board — a committee

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