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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 captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. charge — in control
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. perch — the fish
  7. charge — a price
  8. lie — to recline
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. press — newspapers
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. spell — letters
  17. press — a publisher
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. press — to push
  20. spell — magic
  21. kick — in football
  22. board — a committee
  23. spell — a short time
  24. charge — electricity

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