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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. bank — for money
  4. chest — a box
  5. rash — a series
  6. rash — hasty
  7. bank — of a river
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. suit — in cards
  10. chest — of your body
  11. stock — goods
  12. chest — of your body
  13. deal — to handle
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. board — a committee
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. suit — clothes
  19. saw — the tool
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. bank — for money
  22. stock — shares
  23. suit — to fit
  24. saw — the tool

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