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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. board — to get on
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. rush — hurry
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. plane — a tool
  9. bank — for money
  10. squash — the sport
  11. squash — to crush
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. bank — of a river
  15. pitch — completely
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. season — in sport
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. season — of the year
  23. bank — for money
  24. board — a committee

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