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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. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. scale — in music
  3. board — a committee
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. wind — to turn a key
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. board — to get on
  8. season — of the year
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. mug — a face
  12. season — in sport
  13. wind — moving air
  14. mark — a grade
  15. plane — a tool
  16. mark — a trace
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. mug — a cup
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mug — to rob
  22. scale — size or range
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. mark — to pay attention

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