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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. bound — tied together
  3. last — finally
  4. bound — obliged
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. board — a committee
  7. land — a country
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. board — to get on
  10. land — to come down
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. key — in music
  13. key — for a lock
  14. last — final
  15. key — the most important part
  16. rash — a series
  17. last — to go on
  18. bound — certain
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. sharp — clever
  23. rash — hasty
  24. land — ground

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