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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  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. firm — decided
  2. game — wild animals
  3. pit — in a race
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. suit — in cards
  6. ball — a great time
  7. suit — clothes
  8. net — after costs
  9. net — for catching
  10. board — to get on
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. board — a committee
  14. suit — to fit
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. lie — to recline
  17. pit — a hole
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. game — a match
  20. firm — a company
  21. net — in sport
  22. ball — a dance
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  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