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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. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. kick — in football
  3. bound — tied together
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. bound — obliged
  9. rest — a break
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. board — a committee
  13. bass — the fish
  14. board — to get on
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. shower — to wash
  17. rest — what's left
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bound — certain
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bass — low music
  22. rest — what's left
  23. shower — rain
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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