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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. board — a committee
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. mate — a partner
  7. board — to get on
  8. track — to keep track
  9. track — a path
  10. mate — to breed
  11. staff — a stick
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. track — a song
  16. season — in sport
  17. mate — a friend
  18. snap — to click
  19. staff — employees
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. season — of the year
  24. staff — employees

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