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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: row · toast · dip · wake · season · board · hide · wound

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. board — to get on
  5. row — to paddle
  6. wake — a trail
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. board — a committee
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. wound — an injury
  16. wound — an injury
  17. season — in sport
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. toast — bread
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. dip — to sink
  23. season — of the year
  24. row — a line

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