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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. ball — a great time
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. current — electric
  11. current — of water
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. scale — size or range
  15. scale — in music
  16. current — happening now
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. ball — a dance
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. plane — a tool
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. board — a committee
  24. fan — a supporter

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