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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. board — a committee
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. lie — to recline
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bulb — for light
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. board — to get on
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. bulb — for light
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. fine — high quality
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. lie — an untruth

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