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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. suit — to fit
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. swing — in golf
  6. suit — clothes
  7. board — to get on
  8. swing — to play on
  9. craft — boats
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. suit — in cards
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. charge — a price
  14. cap — a hat
  15. swing — music
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. cap — of ice
  18. charge — in control
  19. board — a committee
  20. charge — electricity
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. cap — a lid
  23. craft — a skill
  24. sharp — with an edge

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