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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 116 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 captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. shower — to wash
  4. cue — a hint
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. bank — for money
  7. cue — for pool
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. track — to keep track
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — a stone
  12. cue — a signal
  13. deal — to handle
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. board — a committee
  16. bank — of a river
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. rock — music
  19. shower — rain
  20. bank — for money
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. track — a path
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. track — a song

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