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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. board — to get on
  6. stand — to bear
  7. hand — in cards
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. board — a committee
  12. fine — all right
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. hand — help
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. plane — a tool
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. fine — high quality

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