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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. lie — to recline
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. current — of water
  5. game — wild animals
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. current — electric
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. board — a committee
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. deal — to handle
  14. scale — in music
  15. current — happening now
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bore — to drill
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. game — a match
  22. bore — to tire
  23. board — to get on
  24. scale — size or range

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