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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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. board — to get on
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. deal — to handle
  6. suit — clothes
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. suit — to fit
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. saw — the tool
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. saw — the tool
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. rest — what's left
  18. court — of law
  19. rest — a break
  20. court — for sport
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. board — a committee
  23. rest — what's left
  24. suit — in cards

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