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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. march — the month
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. board — a committee
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. chip — for betting
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. march — the month
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. chip — to eat
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bulb — for light
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. bulb — for light
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. toast — bread
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. march — music

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