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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. board — to get on
  3. can — to be able to
  4. tube — a container
  5. rest — what's left
  6. row — to paddle
  7. rest — a break
  8. row — a line
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. club — a group
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. club — for golf
  14. tube — the underground
  15. track — a song
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. board — a committee
  18. rush — hurry
  19. can — a tin
  20. track — to keep track
  21. can — a tin
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. track — a path
  24. club — for dancing

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