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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 116 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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. board — a committee
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. tube — a container
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. mark — a grade
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. board — to get on
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. lean — to bend
  12. lean — thin
  13. craft — boats
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. craft — a skill
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. mark — a trace
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. wake — a trail
  20. tube — the underground
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. craft — a handicraft

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