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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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. prune — to trim
  4. suit — in cards
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. key — in music
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. suit — clothes
  12. key — the most important part
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. key — for a lock
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. prune — to trim
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. rock — music
  19. board — to get on
  20. squash — the sport
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. squash — to crush
  24. rock — a stone

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