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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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. board — a committee
  5. can — a tin
  6. board — to get on
  7. can — to be able to
  8. lie — to recline
  9. fine — all right
  10. toast — bread
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. pound — to hit hard
  13. pop — music
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. pop — to visit
  16. can — a tin
  17. pound — a weight
  18. fine — high quality
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. pop — soda

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