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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. press — newspapers
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. game — a match
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. board — a committee
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. press — to push
  12. mark — a grade
  13. game — wild animals
  14. mark — a trace
  15. board — to get on
  16. press — a publisher
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. craft — a skill
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — music
  21. plane — a tool
  22. chair — a leader
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. craft — boats

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