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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. pit — a hole
  3. staff — employees
  4. fall — to drop
  5. chip — for betting
  6. fall — the season
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. ball — a dance
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. fall — to drop
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. ball — a great time
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. board — a committee
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. staff — employees
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. staff — a stick
  23. board — to get on
  24. chip — to eat

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