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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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. bark — to shout
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. board — a committee
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. toast — bread
  8. board — to get on
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. ball — a great time
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. ball — a dance
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. wax — to grow
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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