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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. board — a committee
  8. board — to get on
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. rush — hurry
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. stand — to bear
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. foot — a measure
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. saw — the tool

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