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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. present — a gift
  3. can — to be able to
  4. board — a committee
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. current — electric
  8. current — of water
  9. present — there
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. current — happening now
  12. present — the time now
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. board — to get on
  16. can — a tin
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. can — a tin
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. lean — thin

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