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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. current — electric
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. wind — to turn a key
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. wind — moving air
  7. mug — to rob
  8. tube — the underground
  9. board — to get on
  10. ball — a great time
  11. bound — tied together
  12. ball — a dance
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. bound — certain
  15. wind — moving air
  16. tube — a container
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. mug — a face
  19. perch — the fish
  20. bound — obliged
  21. board — a committee
  22. mug — a cup
  23. current — happening now
  24. current — of water

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