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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: board · fan · date · pit · object · ball · lie · snap

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — to recline
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. snap — to click
  8. board — a committee
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. board — to get on
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. pit — a hole
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. pit — in a race
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. object — an aim
  19. date — the fruit
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. object — to protest
  22. ball — a great time
  23. object — a thing
  24. ball — a dance

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