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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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mug — a cup
  4. file — a line of people
  5. file — a document
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. rest — what's left
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. file — a tool
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mug — a face
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. rush — hurry
  17. mug — to rob
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. rest — what's left
  20. board — to get on
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. rest — a break
  24. fan — to cool the air

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