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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  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. mine — belonging to me
  2. march — the month
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. march — the month
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. current — happening now
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. mine — for digging
  10. board — a committee
  11. bound — certain
  12. bound — obliged
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. rock — a stone
  15. current — electric
  16. rock — music
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. current — of water
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. board — to get on
  22. bound — tied together
  23. mine — an explosive
  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