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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. firm — decided
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. board — to get on
  6. bore — to drill
  7. deal — to handle
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. prune — to trim
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. firm — a company
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. season — of the year
  16. bore — to tire
  17. firm — steady
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. board — a committee
  20. prune — to trim
  21. march — the month
  22. season — in sport
  23. march — the month
  24. march — music

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