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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. pound — a weight
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. stand — to bear
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. last — to go on
  9. toast — bread
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. last — finally
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. dip — to sink
  17. last — final
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. pound — for dogs
  22. board — a committee
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. cabinet — ministers

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