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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. mark — a trace
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. current — electric
  7. board — a committee
  8. ground — the earth
  9. key — for a lock
  10. current — of water
  11. key — in music
  12. mark — a grade
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. key — the most important part
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. rush — hurry
  19. ground — crushed
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. ground — a position
  22. plane — a tool
  23. current — happening now
  24. arm — part of the body

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