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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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. roll — a list
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. roll — a cake
  7. board — a committee
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. bound — tied together
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bass — low music
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. board — to get on
  14. pitch — completely
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. bass — the fish
  18. bound — certain
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. saw — the tool
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bound — obliged
  24. safe — a strongbox

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