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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 don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. board — a committee
  7. rock — a stone
  8. staff — employees
  9. net — for catching
  10. tube — a container
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. staff — a stick
  14. tube — the underground
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. plane — a tool
  17. board — to get on
  18. net — in sport
  19. net — after costs
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. staff — employees
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. rock — music
  24. safe — a strongbox

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