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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. can — a tin
  4. board — to get on
  5. row — a line
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pop — soda
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. can — a tin
  10. board — a committee
  11. bulb — for light
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. pop — music
  15. mate — a partner
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. plane — a tool
  21. pop — to visit
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. row — to paddle
  24. mate — a friend

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