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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bear — the animal
  3. plane — a tool
  4. bass — low music
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. board — to get on
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. bear — the animal
  11. lie — to recline
  12. saw — the tool
  13. board — a committee
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. bass — the fish

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