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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: board · bound · current · plane · nail · coach · rock · date

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. rock — music
  4. current — of water
  5. rock — a stone
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. bound — obliged
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. current — electric
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. plane — a tool
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. date — the fruit
  19. current — happening now
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bound — tied together
  23. board — a committee
  24. board — to get on

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