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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. track — to keep track
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. cue — a signal
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. content — the amount
  9. stock — goods
  10. cue — a hint
  11. stock — shares
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. tube — the underground
  14. tube — a container
  15. track — a song
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. content — happy
  20. cue — for pool
  21. track — a path
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. board — a committee

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