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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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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 · season · ball · deal · bore · lie · rush · row

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. rush — hurry
  3. bore — to drill
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. season — in sport
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. deal — to handle
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. board — a committee
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. bore — to tire
  14. row — to paddle
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. ball — a great time
  18. board — to get on
  19. ball — a dance
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. season — of the year
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. lie — to recline

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