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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 120 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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. fine — high quality
  4. foot — a measure
  5. board — to get on
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. bass — low music
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. band — a music group
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. board — a committee
  17. band — a ring
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. bark — to shout
  20. fine — all right
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. bass — the fish
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. plane — an aircraft

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