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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. plane — a tool
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. can — to be able to
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. branch — a division
  8. toast — bread
  9. board — to get on
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. drill — the tool
  13. drill — army training
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. board — a committee
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. can — a tin
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. date — the fruit
  22. can — a tin
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. branch — of a tree

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