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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'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. saw — the tool
  3. row — to paddle
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. saw — the tool
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. row — a line
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. board — to get on
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. pass — a permit
  17. firm — decided
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. board — a committee
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. firm — a company
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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