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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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. plane — a tool
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bound — tied together
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. board — a committee
  13. bound — obliged
  14. press — newspapers
  15. board — to get on
  16. press — a publisher
  17. bound — certain
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. mine — for digging
  21. press — to push
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — for light
  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