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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. last — finally
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. last — final
  6. suit — clothes
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. march — the month
  10. last — to go on
  11. march — music
  12. march — the month
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. board — a committee
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. suit — to fit
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. suit — in cards
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. racket — a loud noise

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