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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 120 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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. rock — a stone
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. board — to get on
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. ball — a dance
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. plane — a tool
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. court — of a king
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. court — for sport
  17. ball — a great time
  18. board — a committee
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. court — of law
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. rock — music
  24. foot — a measure

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