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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. board — a committee
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. can — a tin
  10. ground — crushed
  11. can — a tin
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. can — to be able to
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. band — a ring
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. ground — the earth
  22. band — a music group
  23. ground — a position
  24. arm — part of the body

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