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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. track — a path
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. charge — in control
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. mate — a partner
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. date — the fruit
  11. mate — a friend
  12. board — a committee
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. mate — to breed
  16. charge — electricity
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. charge — a price
  19. lie — to recline
  20. track — a song
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. track — to keep track
  24. lie — an untruth

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