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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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. board — to get on
  4. lie — to recline
  5. current — of water
  6. mark — a trace
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. date — the fruit
  9. rest — what's left
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. current — happening now
  13. spell — magic
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. mark — a grade
  16. spell — a short time
  17. spell — letters
  18. current — electric
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rest — a break
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. coach — a trainer

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