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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. board — a committee
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. mark — a trace
  5. root — the cause
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. content — the amount
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. object — an aim
  13. object — to protest
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. object — a thing
  16. content — happy
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. root — of a word
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. board — to get on
  24. root — of a plant

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