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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. sharp — clever
  7. board — to get on
  8. board — a committee
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. season — of the year
  11. band — a ring
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. rash — hasty
  15. bear — the animal
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. band — a music group
  22. season — in sport
  23. bear — the animal
  24. rash — a series

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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