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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. face — part of the head
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bark — to shout
  5. club — a group
  6. board — to get on
  7. pitch — completely
  8. face — to confront
  9. club — for golf
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. branch — a division
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. board — a committee
  17. face — to point toward
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. fan — to cool the air

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