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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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. mark — a trace
  5. pop — soda
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. rash — a series
  10. cap — a lid
  11. board — a committee
  12. plane — a tool
  13. cap — of ice
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. mark — a grade
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pop — music
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. board — to get on
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. rash — hasty
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. cap — a hat

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