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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. pop — music
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. lie — to recline
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. bank — for money
  7. pop — to visit
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. bank — for money
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. board — a committee
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. bank — of a river
  16. pop — soda
  17. plane — a tool
  18. stand — to bear
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. board — to get on

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