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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. season — in sport
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. board — to get on
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. bound — obliged
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. perch — the fish
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. bound — tied together
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — of the year
  21. board — a committee
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. cabinet — ministers

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