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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. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. capital — a city
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. bulb — for light
  7. firm — decided
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. fork — in a road
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. firm — a company
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. board — a committee
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. capital — money
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. rush — hurry
  22. board — to get on
  23. bulb — for light
  24. firm — steady

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