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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. board — a committee
  5. current — happening now
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. stock — shares
  8. cue — for pool
  9. lean — thin
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. board — to get on
  12. field — for sport
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. lean — to bend
  15. field — farmland
  16. field — a subject
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. pass — a permit
  19. stock — goods
  20. current — of water
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. cue — a hint
  23. current — electric
  24. cue — a signal

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