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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. prune — to trim
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. bear — the animal
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. roll — a list
  8. pass — a permit
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. fall — the season
  12. roll — a cake
  13. bear — the animal
  14. prune — to trim
  15. fall — to drop
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. board — a committee
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. fall — to drop
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. deal — to handle

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