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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 who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. dip — to sink
  4. track — a song
  5. board — to get on
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. fall — the season
  9. board — a committee
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. toast — bread
  12. track — a path
  13. track — to keep track
  14. cap — a hat
  15. suit — in cards
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. fall — to drop
  19. suit — to fit
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. cap — a lid
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. cap — of ice
  24. suit — clothes

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