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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. board — a committee
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. plane — a tool
  5. net — after costs
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. net — for catching
  9. net — in sport
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. root — the cause
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bear — the animal
  16. root — of a word
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. board — to get on
  21. root — of a plant
  22. stand — to bear
  23. toast — bread
  24. stand — on your feet

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