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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fork — in a road
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. degree — temperature
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. degree — an amount
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. march — music
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. ball — a dance
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. march — the month
  15. march — the month
  16. board — to get on
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. ball — a great time
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. board — a committee
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. degree — from a university
  24. leaves — lets stay

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