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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. net — for catching
  3. board — a committee
  4. can — a tin
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. net — after costs
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. present — the time now
  10. tube — a container
  11. present — a gift
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. tube — the underground
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. net — in sport
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. board — to get on
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. present — there
  24. nail — on a finger

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