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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. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. bank — for money
  5. bulb — for light
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bank — for money
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. board — to get on
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. track — to keep track
  14. track — a path
  15. track — a song
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. board — a committee
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. plane — a tool
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bark — to shout
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. bulb — for light

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