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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 120 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 band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  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. march — music
  2. bore — to tire
  3. march — the month
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bore — to drill
  7. club — a group
  8. mug — to rob
  9. club — for dancing
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. lie — to recline
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. march — the month
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. mug — a cup
  21. club — for golf
  22. mug — a face
  23. board — to get on
  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