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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 124 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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. last — finally
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. last — final
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. hand — help
  11. board — a committee
  12. pit — a hole
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bound — certain
  15. bound — tied together
  16. roll — a cake
  17. hand — in cards
  18. roll — a list
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. pit — in a race
  21. board — to get on
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. lie — to recline
  24. last — to go on

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