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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 am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. board — a committee
  3. can — a tin
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. cap — a hat
  6. can — to be able to
  7. cap — a lid
  8. board — to get on
  9. cap — of ice
  10. fine — high quality
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. bore — to drill
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. plane — a tool
  19. fine — all right
  20. can — a tin
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. bore — to tire

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