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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. board — to get on
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. foot — a measure
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. ground — crushed
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. ground — the earth
  14. ground — a position
  15. staff — employees
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. staff — a stick
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. board — a committee
  24. staff — employees

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