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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 coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. shower — rain
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. bound — obliged
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. board — a committee
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. shower — to wash
  12. board — to get on
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. swing — music
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bound — certain
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. swing — to play on
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. stand — to bear
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. bound — tied together
  24. sharp — clever

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