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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. board — to get on
  4. charge — in control
  5. drill — army training
  6. key — for a lock
  7. drill — a practice
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. key — in music
  10. mark — a grade
  11. key — the most important part
  12. charge — a price
  13. mark — a trace
  14. charge — electricity
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. drill — the tool
  17. board — a committee
  18. stand — for spectators

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