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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. row — a line
  7. bank — for money
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. bank — for money
  10. row — to paddle
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. deal — to handle
  14. board — a committee
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. board — to get on
  17. present — there
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. bank — of a river
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. present — the time now
  22. rock — a stone
  23. rock — music
  24. present — a gift

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