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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: pass · spell · chest · ruler · board · bowl · fine · hide

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. pass — a permit
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. chest — of your body
  6. board — to get on
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. spell — a short time
  11. spell — magic
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. chest — of your body
  17. board — a committee
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. chest — a box
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. fine — all right
  22. spell — letters
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bowl — a dish

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