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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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. board — a committee
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rock — a stone
  8. band — a ring
  9. rock — music
  10. degree — an amount
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. suit — clothes
  16. board — to get on
  17. suit — in cards
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. suit — to fit
  20. band — a music group
  21. pass — a permit
  22. degree — from a university
  23. degree — temperature
  24. pitch — completely

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