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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. spring — a coil
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. board — to get on
  9. spring — the season
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. spring — of water
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rock — music
  16. board — a committee
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. pass — a permit
  21. wound — an injury
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. wound — an injury
  24. lie — to recline

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