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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: present · wake · board · ground · mark · hide · deal · safe

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. mark — a grade
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. present — there
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. ground — the earth
  9. wake — a trail
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. deal — to handle
  12. board — to get on
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. ground — a position
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. mark — a trace
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. ground — crushed
  20. present — the time now
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. present — a gift

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