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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. ground — the earth
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. lie — to recline
  6. rock — music
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. ground — a position
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. rock — a stone
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. suit — clothes
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. suit — to fit
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. suit — in cards
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. ground — crushed
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. board — to get on
  24. board — a committee

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