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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. board — to get on
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. firm — steady
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. mine — for digging
  8. prune — to trim
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. rock — a stone
  11. firm — a company
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. firm — decided
  15. board — a committee
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. rock — music
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. prune — to trim
  24. mouse — the animal

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