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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 sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. stand — to bear
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. present — the time now
  11. lean — thin
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. present — a gift
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. board — a committee
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. lean — to bend
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. present — there
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. board — to get on

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