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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. present — a gift
  3. board — to get on
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. toast — bread
  6. ball — a great time
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. wound — an injury
  11. present — there
  12. board — a committee
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. wound — an injury
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. ball — a dance
  23. stand — to bear
  24. lash — to lash out

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