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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. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  17. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. chest — a box
  4. mark — a grade
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. bound — certain
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. rule — government
  12. chest — of your body
  13. bulb — for light
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. board — to get on
  16. rule — to rule out
  17. chest — of your body
  18. bulb — for light
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bound — tied together
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. board — a committee
  24. mark — a trace

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