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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The water is too ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. object — a thing
  3. object — an aim
  4. object — to protest
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. cold — not warm
  7. board — a committee
  8. cue — for pool
  9. fine — all right
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. current — electric
  12. cue — a hint
  13. cue — a signal
  14. cold — an illness
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. current — happening now
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. wax — to grow
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. fine — high quality
  22. current — of water
  23. cold — the Cold War
  24. leaves — of a tree

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