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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. bound — obliged
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. board — to get on
  5. bound — certain
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bound — tied together
  8. current — of water
  9. root — the cause
  10. wound — an injury
  11. board — a committee
  12. press — newspapers
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. press — to push
  16. current — happening now
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. root — of a plant
  19. press — a publisher
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. wound — an injury
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. current — electric
  24. root — of a word

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