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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 116 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 · rash · dip · swing · bowl · pit · mark · season

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. swing — in golf
  3. mark — a grade
  4. board — to get on
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. swing — to play on
  7. board — a committee
  8. season — in sport
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. pit — in a race
  15. pit — a hole
  16. rash — hasty
  17. season — of the year
  18. dip — to sink
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. swing — music
  21. mark — a trace
  22. rash — a series
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. mark — to pay attention

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