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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: last · board · fan · racket · rush · lie · bore · stick

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. last — final
  3. last — finally
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. last — to go on
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. bore — to drill
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. board — a committee
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. rush — hurry
  16. lie — to recline
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. board — to get on
  24. bore — to tire

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