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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. deal — to handle
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. board — a committee
  6. pop — to visit
  7. plane — a tool
  8. key — for a lock
  9. present — there
  10. key — in music
  11. current — happening now
  12. current — electric
  13. pop — soda
  14. present — the time now
  15. bound — obliged
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. key — the most important part
  18. bound — certain
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. current — of water
  22. pop — music
  23. board — to get on
  24. bound — tied together

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