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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. bound — certain
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. board — to get on
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. board — a committee
  12. rule — a law
  13. bound — obliged
  14. snap — to click
  15. saw — the tool
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. saw — the tool
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. bound — tied together
  23. rule — government
  24. jam — in traffic

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