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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. tube — a container
  3. cue — a signal
  4. board — a committee
  5. track — to keep track
  6. board — to get on
  7. rash — hasty
  8. ground — a position
  9. tube — the underground
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. rash — a series
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. ground — crushed
  14. mark — a grade
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. cue — for pool
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. mark — a trace
  19. track — a path
  20. track — a song
  21. cue — a hint
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. lie — to recline
  24. rash — on the skin

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