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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. rest — what's left
  4. stock — goods
  5. board — to get on
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. squash — the sport
  10. rest — what's left
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. squash — to crush
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. rest — a break
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. board — a committee
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — for light
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. stock — shares
  24. nail — for a hammer

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