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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. chair — a leader
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. board — to get on
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. foot — a measure
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bound — certain
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. bound — tied together
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. board — a committee
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. bound — obliged

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