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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: mug · foot · pass · content · can · season · pop · stick

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. season — of the year
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. mug — a cup
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. season — in sport
  8. mug — to rob
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pop — soda
  11. pop — to visit
  12. foot — a measure
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. content — the amount
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. pass — a permit
  21. can — a tin
  22. pop — music
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. content — happy

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