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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. can — to be able to
  4. spell — magic
  5. tube — a container
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. can — a tin
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bore — to drill
  12. bass — low music
  13. pass — a permit
  14. tube — the underground
  15. current — of water
  16. spell — a short time
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. bass — the fish
  19. current — electric
  20. can — a tin
  21. spell — letters
  22. bore — to tire
  23. current — happening now
  24. board — a committee

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