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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. lean — thin
  3. fall — the season
  4. cue — for pool
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. fall — to drop
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. mark — a trace
  9. cue — a hint
  10. board — a committee
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. can — to be able to
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. can — a tin
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. cue — a signal
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. mark — a grade
  20. lean — to bend
  21. board — to get on
  22. can — a tin
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. fall — to drop

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