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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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. can — a tin
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. can — a tin
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. key — in music
  9. mug — a cup
  10. track — a path
  11. key — the most important part
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. mug — to rob
  14. track — to keep track
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. can — to be able to
  18. track — a song
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. sharp — clever
  21. mug — a face
  22. key — for a lock
  23. board — to get on
  24. board — a flat piece

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