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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: stick · bay · fine · pass · capital · board · bore · mug

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. pass — a permit
  4. capital — money
  5. fine — all right
  6. bore — to drill
  7. board — to get on
  8. board — a committee
  9. capital — a big letter
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. mug — to rob
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. fine — high quality
  17. mug — a cup
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. capital — a city
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. mug — a face

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