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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. bound — tied together
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. rash — hasty
  5. ball — a great time
  6. bank — for money
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bound — certain
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. face — to confront
  11. bank — for money
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. wind — moving air
  14. ball — a dance
  15. bound — obliged
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rash — a series
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. face — to point toward
  20. face — part of the head
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. wind — moving air
  23. bank — of a river
  24. board — a committee

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