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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. board — to get on
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. rest — a break
  5. bound — tied together
  6. staff — employees
  7. track — a song
  8. staff — a stick
  9. current — electric
  10. current — happening now
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. rest — what's left
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bound — obliged
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. current — of water
  17. staff — employees
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. rest — what's left
  20. board — a committee
  21. pass — a permit
  22. track — a path
  23. lie — to recline
  24. track — to keep track

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