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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. saw — the tool
  3. key — the most important part
  4. board — to get on
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. net — in sport
  7. fine — high quality
  8. saw — the tool
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. board — a committee
  13. march — the month
  14. fine — all right
  15. march — the month
  16. net — after costs
  17. march — music
  18. key — for a lock
  19. plane — a tool
  20. lie — to recline
  21. net — for catching
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. key — in music
  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