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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. file — a line of people
  3. spell — a short time
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. vault — a safe
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. spell — magic
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. spell — letters
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. board — to get on
  12. file — a document
  13. board — a committee
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. file — a tool
  19. stem — to come from
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. stand — to bear
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. stand — for spectators

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