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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. ground — crushed
  8. ground — the earth
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. chip — for betting
  12. bulb — for light
  13. toast — bread
  14. board — to get on
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. dip — to sink
  18. ground — a position
  19. chip — to eat
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. board — a committee
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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