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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. board — a committee
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. track — a path
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. pass — a permit
  13. craft — boats
  14. track — a song
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. board — to get on
  19. track — to keep track
  20. craft — a skill
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bear — the animal
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. leaves — to go away

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