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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. net — in sport
  4. net — after costs
  5. board — a committee
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. plane — a tool
  10. lie — to recline
  11. board — to get on
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. wax — to grow
  15. net — for catching
  16. mine — for digging
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. vault — a safe
  21. pass — a permit
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. board — a flat piece

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