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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 120 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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. firm — a company
  6. mug — to rob
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. mug — a cup
  9. lean — thin
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. mug — a face
  13. board — to get on
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. board — a committee
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. lean — to bend
  21. firm — steady
  22. foot — a measure
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. firm — decided

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