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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 116 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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. march — music
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bound — obliged
  8. charge — electricity
  9. season — in sport
  10. suit — clothes
  11. bulb — for light
  12. suit — in cards
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. march — the month
  15. bound — tied together
  16. lie — to recline
  17. charge — in control
  18. charge — a price
  19. bound — certain
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. board — to get on
  22. march — the month
  23. suit — to fit
  24. board — a committee

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