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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: arm · cabinet · cue · lie · rock · ground · bear · board

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. board — a committee
  3. lie — to recline
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bear — the animal
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. cue — a signal
  10. ground — crushed
  11. board — to get on
  12. cue — for pool
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. rock — music
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. rock — a stone
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. bear — the animal
  19. ground — a position
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cue — a hint
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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