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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. saw — the tool
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. board — to get on
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. spell — magic
  8. board — a committee
  9. can — a tin
  10. saw — the tool
  11. charge — electricity
  12. charge — in control
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. pitch — completely
  17. spell — letters
  18. spell — a short time
  19. can — a tin
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. charge — a price
  23. can — to be able to
  24. pitch — a sports field

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