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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. face — part of the head
  3. face — to point toward
  4. root — the cause
  5. cue — a hint
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. face — to confront
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bulb — for light
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. root — of a plant
  14. bore — to tire
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. cue — for pool
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bore — to drill
  20. cue — a signal
  21. root — of a word
  22. snap — to click
  23. bulb — for light
  24. board — a committee

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