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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.

Make a worksheet

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: board · can · bowl · lie · clip · wave · squash · leaves

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. lie — to recline
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. clip — for paper
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. board — to get on
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. squash — the sport
  14. clip — to cut
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. squash — to crush
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. board — a committee
  19. clip — a video
  20. can — a tin
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. can — to be able to
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. bowl — to roll

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