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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 captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. season — in sport
  6. cue — for pool
  7. cue — a hint
  8. tube — a container
  9. bore — to tire
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. season — of the year
  12. bore — to drill
  13. board — a committee
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. charge — in control
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. tube — the underground
  19. bark — to shout
  20. charge — electricity
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. cue — a signal
  23. charge — a price
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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