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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. board — to get on
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. charge — electricity
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. net — after costs
  10. board — a committee
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. scale — in music
  13. scale — size or range
  14. net — in sport
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. net — for catching
  17. charge — a price
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. fork — in a road
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. charge — in control

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