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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. ground — the earth
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. board — to get on
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. board — a committee
  12. ground — a position
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. net — after costs
  15. net — in sport
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. net — for catching
  19. rush — hurry
  20. saw — the tool
  21. plane — a tool
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. ground — crushed
  24. saw — the tool

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