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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 players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. board — to get on
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. pitch — completely
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. shower — rain
  13. board — a committee
  14. bass — the fish
  15. fine — all right
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. fine — high quality
  20. bound — obliged
  21. shower — to wash
  22. bound — certain
  23. bound — tied together
  24. bass — low music

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