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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. spell — a short time
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. board — to get on
  6. bear — the animal
  7. spell — magic
  8. board — a committee
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. bulb — for light
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. bulb — for light
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. chip — to eat
  19. mine — for digging
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. stand — to bear
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. chip — for betting
  24. spell — letters

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