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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 · last · cap · bowl · ball · bass · cabinet · rock

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cap — of ice
  4. can — to be able to
  5. ball — a dance
  6. cap — a lid
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. last — finally
  9. rock — a stone
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. bass — the fish
  13. last — to go on
  14. bass — low music
  15. cap — a hat
  16. can — a tin
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. can — a tin
  19. ball — a great time
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rock — music
  24. last — final

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