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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. board — to get on
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. stock — goods
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. current — happening now
  10. board — a committee
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. current — of water
  14. lie — to recline
  15. bark — to shout
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. stock — shares
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. current — electric

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