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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. board — to get on
  3. hand — in cards
  4. track — a song
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. suit — clothes
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. suit — to fit
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. board — a committee
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. track — a path
  18. hand — help
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. track — to keep track
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. suit — in cards

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