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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. hand — in cards
  3. rash — hasty
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. board — a committee
  9. can — a tin
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. board — to get on
  12. can — to be able to
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. pass — a permit
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. chair — a leader
  20. rash — a series
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. can — a tin
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. hand — help

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