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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've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. sharp — clever
  3. board — a committee
  4. cue — for pool
  5. board — to get on
  6. mate — a partner
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. march — the month
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. cue — a signal
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rock — music
  13. march — music
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. spell — magic
  16. cue — a hint
  17. rock — a stone
  18. march — the month
  19. spell — letters
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. mate — to breed
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. mate — a friend

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