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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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. drill — the tool
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. board — a committee
  7. drill — a practice
  8. current — electric
  9. plane — a tool
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. bulb — for light
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. current — of water
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bulb — for light
  18. board — to get on
  19. drill — army training
  20. deal — to handle
  21. wound — an injury
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. wound — an injury
  24. current — happening now

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