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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: tube · mate · cap · season · can · foot · wake · pitcher

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. tube — the underground
  4. can — to be able to
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. mate — to breed
  7. cap — of ice
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. season — of the year
  10. foot — a measure
  11. season — in sport
  12. can — a tin
  13. tube — a container
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. wake — a trail
  17. mate — a partner
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. can — a tin
  21. cap — a lid
  22. cap — a hat
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. mate — a friend

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