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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 116 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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. board — to get on
  3. mug — to rob
  4. can — a tin
  5. mark — a grade
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. file — a document
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. board — a committee
  10. fine — all right
  11. ball — a great time
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. mark — a trace
  14. file — a tool
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. file — a line of people
  17. mug — a face
  18. can — to be able to
  19. sharp — clever
  20. ball — a dance
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. can — a tin
  24. mug — a cup

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