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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 girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. board — to get on
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. board — a committee
  5. row — to paddle
  6. mug — to rob
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. drill — army training
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. mug — a face
  13. date — the fruit
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. drill — a practice
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. drill — the tool
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. mug — a cup
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — hurry

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