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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. False peace will not ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. row — to paddle
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. board — to get on
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. board — a committee
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. last — finally
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. last — final
  17. prune — to trim
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. deal — to handle
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. row — a line
  24. plane — a 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