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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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. row — a line
  3. bass — the fish
  4. court — of a king
  5. court — for sport
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. bank — of a river
  9. firm — decided
  10. firm — a company
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. row — to paddle
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. lie — to recline
  17. bank — for money
  18. board — a committee
  19. bass — low music
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bank — for money
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. court — of law
  24. firm — steady

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