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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: hide · pit · can · scale · stand · bowl · spell · sharp

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. spell — letters
  6. stand — to bear
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. pit — a hole
  9. spell — magic
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. can — a tin
  17. scale — in music
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. spell — a short time
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. sharp — clever
  23. scale — size or range
  24. hide — to keep secret

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