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

Word bank: cell · ruler · rock · season · bear · lash · board · pitch

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. He was locked up in a ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. board — to get on
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. rock — a stone
  6. bear — the animal
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. season — of the year
  9. rock — music
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. cell — a phone
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. pitch — completely
  14. board — a committee
  15. cell — in biology
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. cell — in a prison
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. season — in sport

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