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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'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. board — to get on
  6. can — to be able to
  7. wax — to grow
  8. mug — to rob
  9. cell — in biology
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mug — a face
  12. can — a tin
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. can — a tin
  15. bound — tied together
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rock — a stone
  18. bound — obliged
  19. rock — music
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. cell — a phone
  22. bound — certain
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. leaves — lets stay

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