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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. hand — help
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. pass — a permit
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. board — a committee
  10. hand — in cards
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. stand — to bear
  22. board — to get on
  23. wake — a trail
  24. wave — of the sea

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