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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 will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. board — to get on
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. pitch — completely
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. board — a committee
  8. cap — a lid
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. cap — of ice
  11. march — music
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. cap — a hat
  17. march — the month
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bear — the animal
  20. saw — the tool
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. foot — a measure
  23. saw — the tool
  24. temple — a place of worship

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