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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. net — in sport
  3. pit — in a race
  4. board — a committee
  5. saw — the tool
  6. object — a thing
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. net — after costs
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. bulb — for light
  12. object — to protest
  13. saw — the tool
  14. toast — bread
  15. tube — the underground
  16. bulb — for light
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. object — an aim
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. net — for catching
  21. tube — a container
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. pit — a hole

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