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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. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. board — to get on
  3. chest — of your body
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. drill — a practice
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. court — of law
  8. board — a committee
  9. charge — electricity
  10. charge — in control
  11. drill — army training
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. drill — the tool
  14. plane — a tool
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. charge — a price
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. court — for sport
  21. court — of a king
  22. chest — of your body
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. toast — bread

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