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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. can — a tin
  4. mate — a partner
  5. mate — to breed
  6. object — a thing
  7. club — for dancing
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. board — a committee
  10. object — an aim
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. chair — a leader
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. can — a tin
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. club — for golf
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. club — a group
  21. mate — a friend
  22. can — to be able to
  23. object — to protest
  24. hide — to keep secret

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