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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. row — a line
  3. deal — to handle
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. spell — magic
  6. spring — a coil
  7. suit — clothes
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. chip — to eat
  10. row — to paddle
  11. suit — to fit
  12. spell — letters
  13. spell — a short time
  14. chip — for betting
  15. suit — in cards
  16. spring — the season
  17. board — a committee
  18. spring — of water
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. board — to get on

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