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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. board — a committee
  3. bulb — for light
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. object — a thing
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. bulb — for light
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. branch — a division
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. row — to paddle
  15. drill — the tool
  16. object — an aim
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. object — to protest
  21. row — a line
  22. board — to get on
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. drill — a practice

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