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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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  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. board — a committee
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. row — to paddle
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. scale — in music
  7. bore — to drill
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. row — a line
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. bore — to tire
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. scale — size or range
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. row — a quarrel
  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