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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: fine · season · mine · mouse · nail · stand · degree · can

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. can — a tin
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. season — in sport
  6. fine — all right
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. mine — for digging
  9. degree — an amount
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. can — a tin
  12. fine — high quality
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. can — to be able to
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. degree — from a university
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. degree — temperature
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. season — of the year
  24. stand — to bear

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