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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 captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. mug — a cup
  3. charge — in control
  4. foot — a measure
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. charge — electricity
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. mate — to breed
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. mate — a partner
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. mug — to rob
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. mate — a friend
  16. row — a line
  17. board — a committee
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. charge — a price
  20. rash — hasty
  21. rash — a series
  22. row — to paddle
  23. mug — a face
  24. fork — in a road

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