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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 116 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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. rash — hasty
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. board — to get on
  7. pop — soda
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. pop — music
  11. rash — a series
  12. bore — to tire
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. bore — to drill
  15. pass — a permit
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. stock — shares
  18. board — a committee
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. lie — to recline
  22. stock — goods
  23. fan — a supporter
  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