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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. current — happening now
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. current — electric
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. lie — to recline
  12. board — to get on
  13. mark — a trace
  14. current — of water
  15. board — a committee
  16. spring — a coil
  17. spring — of water
  18. prune — to trim
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. spring — the season
  21. prune — to trim
  22. chip — for betting
  23. mark — a grade
  24. chip — to eat

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