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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. ball — a dance
  4. ball — a great time
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. plane — a tool
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. saw — the tool
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. board — a committee
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. board — to get on
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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