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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 116 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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. cue — a hint
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. cue — a signal
  5. cue — for pool
  6. board — a committee
  7. bass — the fish
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. bound — tied together
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. stand — to bear
  16. bound — certain
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. bound — obliged
  23. board — to get on
  24. ruler — for measuring

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