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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. net — for catching
  3. key — in music
  4. bore — to drill
  5. board — to get on
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. net — in sport
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. root — of a word
  11. root — the cause
  12. bore — to tire
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. key — for a lock
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. lean — thin
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. net — after costs
  20. key — the most important part
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. lean — to bend
  23. board — a committee
  24. root — of a plant

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