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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 120 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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. firm — decided
  3. dip — to sink
  4. board — a committee
  5. mark — a trace
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. ball — a dance
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. mark — a grade
  11. firm — a company
  12. board — to get on
  13. bulb — for light
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. firm — steady
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bulb — for light
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. ball — a great time

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