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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 116 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. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. ground — the earth
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. board — to get on
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. spell — magic
  10. rock — a stone
  11. pop — soda
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. pop — music
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. ground — a position
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. spell — a short time
  20. ground — crushed
  21. board — a committee
  22. rock — music
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. pop — to visit

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