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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 120 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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. board — to get on
  3. cue — a signal
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. track — a path
  6. track — a song
  7. cue — for pool
  8. fork — in a road
  9. rash — hasty
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. board — a committee
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. rash — a series
  14. charge — electricity
  15. cue — a hint
  16. charge — a price
  17. charge — in control
  18. season — of the year
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. track — to keep track
  24. season — in sport

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