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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. bass — the fish
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. suit — to fit
  7. suit — in cards
  8. season — in sport
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. wake — a trail
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. plane — a tool
  15. board — to get on
  16. season — of the year
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. board — a committee
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. bass — low music
  24. mouse — the animal

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