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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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. board — to get on
  3. deal — to handle
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. board — a committee
  7. ground — the earth
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rock — music
  10. bear — the animal
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. rock — a stone
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. ground — crushed
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. ground — a position

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