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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  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. temple — a place of worship
  2. board — a committee
  3. can — a tin
  4. mug — a cup
  5. rock — music
  6. can — a tin
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. staff — a stick
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. court — for sport
  11. mug — a face
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. board — to get on
  14. can — to be able to
  15. staff — employees
  16. mug — to rob
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. staff — employees
  20. rock — a stone
  21. court — of a king
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. court — of law
  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