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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. object — to protest
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. object — an aim
  9. board — to get on
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. board — a committee
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. bass — low music
  15. rule — a law
  16. object — a thing
  17. suit — clothes
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bass — the fish
  22. sharp — clever
  23. suit — in cards
  24. rule — government

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