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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. mug — a cup
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. mug — a face
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. board — a committee
  9. object — to protest
  10. current — happening now
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. object — an aim
  13. plane — a tool
  14. board — to get on
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. mug — to rob
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. current — electric
  20. sharp — clever
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. current — of water
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  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