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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 124 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. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bound — obliged
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. pop — to visit
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. rule — to rule out
  9. board — to get on
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. bound — tied together
  12. season — of the year
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. pop — soda
  15. pop — music
  16. board — a committee
  17. bound — certain
  18. rule — a law
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. plane — a tool
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. season — in sport
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. board — a flat piece

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