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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
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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: club · rock · face · game · squash · board · track · ruler

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. rock — music
  3. board — a committee
  4. face — to point toward
  5. club — for golf
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. track — a song
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. squash — the sport
  11. game — wild animals
  12. game — a match
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. board — to get on
  15. track — a path
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. club — a group
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. face — part of the head
  20. rock — a stone
  21. track — to keep track
  22. club — for dancing
  23. face — to confront
  24. squash — the vegetable

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