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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. board — a committee
  3. cap — of ice
  4. can — a tin
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bound — certain
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. board — to get on
  13. kid — to tease
  14. cap — a lid
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bound — obliged
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. cap — a hat
  19. can — a tin
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. pass — a permit
  22. kid — child
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. leaves — of a tree

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