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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. craft — a skill
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. board — a committee
  5. dip — to sink
  6. staff — employees
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. staff — a stick
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. ball — a great time
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pitch — completely
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. ball — a dance
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. craft — boats
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. wake — a trail
  24. staff — employees

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