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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. last — finally
  3. last — final
  4. drill — the tool
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. board — a committee
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. board — to get on
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bass — the fish
  14. last — to go on
  15. drill — a practice
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. pass — a permit
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. bass — low music
  24. pitcher — a jug

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