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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. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. row — to paddle
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. board — a committee
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. can — to be able to
  15. plane — a tool
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. lie — to recline
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. board — to get on
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. row — a line

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