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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 thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. pit — a hole
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. ground — the earth
  6. ground — crushed
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. lean — to bend
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. ground — a position
  11. face — part of the head
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. lean — thin
  14. face — to confront
  15. board — to get on
  16. cue — a hint
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. pit — in a race
  19. face — to point toward
  20. cue — for pool
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. cue — a signal

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