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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 120 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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. board — a committee
  3. cue — a signal
  4. cue — for pool
  5. spell — magic
  6. charge — a price
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bound — certain
  11. spell — letters
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. board — to get on
  14. mark — a grade
  15. charge — in control
  16. spell — a short time
  17. charge — electricity
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bound — obliged
  22. mark — a trace
  23. cue — a hint
  24. lie — an untruth

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