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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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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. spell — a short time
  4. board — a committee
  5. charge — a price
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. spell — magic
  11. prune — to trim
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. prune — to trim
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. spell — letters
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. charge — electricity
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. charge — in control
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. board — to get on

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