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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: cabinet · season · can · bowl · ruler · board · lean · foot

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. season — of the year
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. can — to be able to
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. season — in sport
  9. board — a committee
  10. foot — a measure
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. board — to get on
  16. can — a tin
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. lean — to bend
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. can — a tin
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. cabinet — ministers

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