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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. rock — a stone
  4. bank — for money
  5. cue — a hint
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bank — for money
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. net — after costs
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. cue — for pool
  12. net — for catching
  13. cue — a signal
  14. net — in sport
  15. bank — of a river
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. present — there
  18. board — to get on
  19. present — the time now
  20. board — a committee
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. present — a gift
  23. sharp — clever
  24. rock — music

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