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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. board — a committee
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. object — a thing
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. object — an aim
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. ball — a great time
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. bank — for money
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. bank — of a river
  14. sharp — clever
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. object — to protest
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. bank — for money
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. ball — a dance

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