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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. row — a line
  3. row — to paddle
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. track — a path
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. roll — a cake
  8. board — to get on
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. track — a song
  11. board — a committee
  12. toast — bread
  13. roll — a list
  14. net — after costs
  15. track — to keep track
  16. net — for catching
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. net — in sport
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. ball — a dance
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ball — a great time
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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