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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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. board — to get on
  3. shower — to wash
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. board — a committee
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. bass — the fish
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. dip — to sink
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. key — the most important part
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. cell — a phone
  15. key — in music
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — all right
  18. bass — low music
  19. suit — in cards
  20. shower — rain
  21. suit — to fit
  22. key — for a lock
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. suit — clothes

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