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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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. pass — a permit
  5. saw — the tool
  6. ball — a great time
  7. tube — a container
  8. cap — a hat
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. board — a committee
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. ball — a dance
  17. saw — the tool
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. cap — of ice
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. board — to get on
  23. cap — a lid
  24. tube — the underground

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