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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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. tube — a container
  3. pass — a permit
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. tube — the underground
  10. bulb — for light
  11. board — a committee
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. perch — the fish
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. chip — to eat
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. chip — for betting
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. bulb — for light
  24. perch — for a bird

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