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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 took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. board — a committee
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. land — to come down
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. track — to keep track
  9. track — a path
  10. net — after costs
  11. net — in sport
  12. rock — a stone
  13. board — to get on
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. rock — music
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. land — a country
  20. deal — to handle
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. track — a song
  23. land — ground
  24. deal — a big deal

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