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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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. toast — bread
  3. firm — decided
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rock — a stone
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. mark — a trace
  12. lean — to bend
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. firm — a company
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. rock — music
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. board — to get on
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. mark — a grade
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. board — a committee
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. lean — thin

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