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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: lie · bulb · can · fine · bark · board · mark · bear

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. can — to be able to
  5. can — a tin
  6. board — a committee
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. mark — a trace
  9. lie — to recline
  10. fine — high quality
  11. bear — the animal
  12. mark — a grade
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bark — to shout
  17. bear — the animal
  18. fine — all right
  19. can — a tin
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. bark — of a tree

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