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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pop — music
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. plane — a tool
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. bass — the fish
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. pop — to visit
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. bass — low music
  18. season — in sport
  19. season — of the year
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. pop — soda
  22. board — a committee
  23. bulb — for light
  24. cabinet — ministers

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