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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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. bound — certain
  3. cell — a phone
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. squash — the sport
  6. bound — tied together
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. charge — in control
  10. board — a committee
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. cell — in biology
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. rock — music
  16. charge — a price
  17. foot — a measure
  18. charge — electricity
  19. rock — a stone
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. bound — obliged
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. board — to get on

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