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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. mark — a trace
  3. board — to get on
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. board — a committee
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. band — a ring
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. mark — a grade
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. shower — to wash
  18. rush — hurry
  19. lie — to recline
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. band — a music group
  24. shower — rain

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