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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. prune — to trim
  3. suit — in cards
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. suit — clothes
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. board — a committee
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. bear — the animal
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. deal — to handle
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. prune — to trim
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. bear — the animal
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. sharp — clever
  23. suit — to fit
  24. deal — a big deal

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