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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  18. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. clip — to cut
  3. band — a ring
  4. board — to get on
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. band — a music group
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. clip — a video
  18. clip — for paper
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. board — a committee
  24. rush — hurry

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