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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. firm — decided
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. season — in sport
  5. track — to keep track
  6. rash — hasty
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. rash — a series
  9. board — to get on
  10. rest — a break
  11. board — a committee
  12. rest — what's left
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. rest — what's left
  16. stem — to come from
  17. track — a path
  18. lie — to recline
  19. season — of the year
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. track — a song
  24. firm — steady

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