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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. cell — a phone
  3. board — a committee
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. mug — a cup
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. board — to get on
  9. cell — in biology
  10. mug — to rob
  11. sharp — clever
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. season — of the year
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. pound — a weight
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. mug — a face
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. pound — for dogs

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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