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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mug — a cup
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. row — a line
  9. pass — a permit
  10. row — to paddle
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. ball — a dance
  14. present — there
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. ball — a great time
  18. mug — to rob
  19. present — a gift
  20. board — a committee
  21. present — the time now
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. mug — a face
  24. board — to get on

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