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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.

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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: coach · fan · deal · bound · object · season · board · can

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. season — in sport
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. bound — obliged
  6. can — a tin
  7. board — a committee
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. object — to protest
  10. can — to be able to
  11. deal — to handle
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. object — an aim
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. bound — tied together
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. season — of the year
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. board — to get on
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. bound — certain
  23. can — a tin
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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