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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. pit — a hole
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. branch — a division
  6. track — a song
  7. fork — in a road
  8. track — a path
  9. board — to get on
  10. plane — a tool
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. board — a committee
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. rule — government
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. track — to keep track
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. pit — in a race
  20. rule — a law
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. leaves — lets stay

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