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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. chip — to eat
  3. bulb — for light
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. drill — a practice
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. board — to get on
  8. chip — for betting
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. board — a committee
  15. bulb — for light
  16. club — for dancing
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. pass — a permit
  20. drill — the tool
  21. club — for golf
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. club — a group

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