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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. can — a tin
  4. roll — a cake
  5. board — to get on
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. scale — size or range
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. rush — hurry
  12. scale — in music
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. bear — the animal
  16. can — to be able to
  17. can — a tin
  18. board — a committee
  19. roll — a list
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. wax — to grow
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bear — to put up with

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