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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. board — a committee
  6. root — of a plant
  7. prune — to trim
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. board — to get on
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. charge — a price
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. charge — in control
  14. prune — to trim
  15. root — the cause
  16. bass — low music
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. root — of a word
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. charge — electricity
  22. bass — the fish
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. bowl — a football final

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