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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. fall — the season
  3. board — a committee
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. last — to go on
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. last — final
  14. season — of the year
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. last — finally
  17. fall — to drop
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. season — in sport
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. fall — to drop
  23. game — wild animals
  24. game — a match

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