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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. rock — a stone
  3. board — to get on
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. board — a committee
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. current — happening now
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. current — of water
  11. wound — an injury
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. season — of the year
  18. season — in sport
  19. current — electric
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. rock — music
  22. wound — an injury
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. vault — a safe

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