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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. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. firm — a company
  3. board — a committee
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. firm — decided
  7. board — to get on
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. charge — a price
  10. firm — steady
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. charge — electricity
  13. degree — an amount
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. degree — from a university
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. suit — to fit
  19. suit — in cards
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. charge — in control
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. suit — clothes
  24. bark — to shout

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