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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. land — a country
  3. board — to get on
  4. land — to come down
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. bulb — for light
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. board — a committee
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. plane — a tool
  13. mark — a grade
  14. bank — of a river
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — for money
  18. land — ground

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