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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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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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bulb — for light
  3. cap — a hat
  4. cap — a lid
  5. board — to get on
  6. bulb — for light
  7. board — a committee
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cap — of ice
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. rush — hurry
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. rush — a thrill

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