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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mark — a grade
  3. drill — army training
  4. drill — a practice
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. board — a committee
  11. bass — low music
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mark — a trace
  14. can — a tin
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. file — a document
  17. drill — the tool
  18. file — a tool
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. board — to get on
  21. bass — the fish
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. file — a line of people
  24. leaves — to go away

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