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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: roll · season · wake · firm · wound · fine · can · cabinet

  1. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. wake — a trail
  4. can — a tin
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. fine — all right
  7. season — of the year
  8. firm — decided
  9. wound — an injury
  10. roll — a list
  11. fine — high quality
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. can — to be able to
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. season — in sport
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. firm — steady
  19. roll — a cake
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. can — a tin
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. firm — a company
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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