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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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. row — to paddle
  5. board — a committee
  6. board — to get on
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. can — to be able to
  9. track — a song
  10. track — to keep track
  11. pound — a weight
  12. land — to come down
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. plane — a tool
  18. track — a path
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — a tin
  21. land — ground
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. land — a country

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