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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 120 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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. season — in sport
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. mark — a trace
  12. season — of the year
  13. board — a committee
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. board — to get on
  19. mark — a grade
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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