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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: bear · track · board · safe · club · tube · mine · arm

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. club — for golf
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. club — for dancing
  5. track — to keep track
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. bear — the animal
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. tube — the underground
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. tube — a container
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. track — a path
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. board — to get on
  19. mine — for digging
  20. bear — the animal
  21. club — a group
  22. track — a song
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. mine — an explosive

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