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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bear — the animal
  3. net — in sport
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. board — a committee
  6. chip — for betting
  7. board — to get on
  8. ground — crushed
  9. mug — to rob
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. bound — certain
  12. net — after costs
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. mug — a cup
  15. bear — the animal
  16. chip — to eat
  17. net — for catching
  18. bound — obliged
  19. lie — to recline
  20. ground — the earth
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. ground — a position
  23. bound — tied together
  24. mug — a face

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