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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: jam · tube · board · wave · bay · face · fan · toast

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. face — to confront
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. face — part of the head
  11. board — a committee
  12. face — to point toward
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. toast — bread
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. tube — a container
  21. tube — the underground
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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