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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. fine — high quality
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. bulb — for light
  8. board — a committee
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. drill — the tool
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. drill — a practice
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. shower — to wash
  19. drill — army training
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. fine — all right
  22. shower — rain
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — a supporter

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