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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 120 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 seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. craft — boats
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. spell — a short time
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. spell — letters
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. mug — a cup
  10. rush — hurry
  11. mug — a face
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. spell — magic
  15. board — to get on
  16. rash — hasty
  17. craft — a skill
  18. mug — to rob
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. board — a committee
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. rash — a series

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