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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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. board — to get on
  3. mate — to breed
  4. mate — a partner
  5. snap — to click
  6. rash — a series
  7. board — a committee
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. staff — employees
  11. mate — a friend
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. staff — employees
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. rash — hasty
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. staff — a stick
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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