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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. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. shower — to wash
  3. shower — rain
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. can — to be able to
  7. pass — a permit
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. can — a tin
  16. board — a committee
  17. can — a tin
  18. season — of the year
  19. key — for a lock
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. key — in music
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. key — the most important part
  24. season — in sport

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