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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. board — a committee
  3. object — a thing
  4. rash — a series
  5. hand — help
  6. bank — for money
  7. cue — for pool
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. rash — hasty
  10. bank — for money
  11. bank — of a river
  12. key — in music
  13. object — to protest
  14. key — the most important part
  15. cue — a signal
  16. suit — in cards
  17. object — an aim
  18. suit — to fit
  19. cue — a hint
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. board — to get on
  23. key — for a lock
  24. suit — clothes

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