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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rock — music
  3. board — a committee
  4. mark — a grade
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. field — a subject
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. board — to get on
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. field — farmland
  12. suit — in cards
  13. field — for sport
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. suit — clothes
  17. suit — to fit
  18. mark — a trace
  19. ball — a dance
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. branch — a division
  24. ball — a great time

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