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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. land — ground
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. current — happening now
  7. land — a country
  8. bound — certain
  9. land — to come down
  10. track — a path
  11. current — electric
  12. bear — the animal
  13. track — to keep track
  14. toast — bread
  15. bound — obliged
  16. current — of water
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. board — a committee
  21. board — to get on
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. track — a song
  24. mouse — for a computer

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