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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. board — to get on
  3. bound — tied together
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. rule — a law
  6. rule — government
  7. suit — clothes
  8. suit — in cards
  9. lean — to bend
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. mark — a trace
  13. dip — to sink
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. bound — certain
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. suit — to fit
  18. board — a committee
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bound — obliged
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. mark — a grade
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. dip — a sauce

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