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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. can — a tin
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. can — a tin
  6. chair — a leader
  7. mark — a grade
  8. mark — a trace
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. board — a committee
  11. bound — obliged
  12. cue — a signal
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. cue — for pool
  16. bound — tied together
  17. lie — to recline
  18. board — to get on
  19. can — to be able to
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bound — certain
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. sharp — clever
  24. cue — a hint

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