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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. scale — in music
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. scale — size or range
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bound — obliged
  7. suit — in cards
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. suit — clothes
  10. board — a committee
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. vault — a safe
  13. rash — hasty
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. plane — a tool
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bound — certain
  22. rash — a series
  23. bound — tied together
  24. scale — for weighing

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