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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. dip — to sink
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. board — to get on
  9. bulb — for light
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. prune — to trim
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. prune — to trim
  19. board — a committee
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. lie — to recline
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. bowl — a football final

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