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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. deal — to handle
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. stock — goods
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. rash — hasty
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. board — a committee
  11. lean — to bend
  12. pit — in a race
  13. rash — a series
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. stock — shares
  16. sharp — clever
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. lean — thin
  20. pit — a hole
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. board — to get on
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. lash — to lash out

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