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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 120 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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. fine — high quality
  3. stock — shares
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. cue — for pool
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. fine — all right
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. cue — a signal
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. snap — to click
  13. key — in music
  14. board — to get on
  15. key — the most important part
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. key — for a lock
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. stock — goods
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — a strongbox

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