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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. board — to get on
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rush — hurry
  8. mate — a partner
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bulb — for light
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. board — a committee
  13. bulb — for light
  14. game — a match
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. fine — high quality
  18. game — wild animals
  19. mate — to breed
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. mate — a friend
  23. fine — all right
  24. patient — a sick person

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