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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. spring — a coil
  4. stock — goods
  5. stock — shares
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. deal — to handle
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. cap — of ice
  11. spring — of water
  12. rock — a stone
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. rock — music
  15. bulb — for light
  16. spring — the season
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. cap — a hat
  23. board — a committee
  24. cap — a lid

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