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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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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: fan · date · lie · chair · suit · board · can · deal

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. suit — in cards
  3. lie — to recline
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. date — the fruit
  9. chair — a leader
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. deal — to handle
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. board — a committee
  14. suit — to fit
  15. suit — clothes
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. can — to be able to
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — a tin
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. deal — an agreement

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