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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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. current — happening now
  3. net — after costs
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. pitch — completely
  6. bound — certain
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. current — of water
  11. rock — music
  12. chip — to eat
  13. board — to get on
  14. net — for catching
  15. rock — a stone
  16. current — electric
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. chip — for betting
  21. net — in sport
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bound — tied together
  24. stand — to bear

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