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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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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: root · hide · board · row · can · cue · plane · cell

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. He was locked up in a ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. row — to paddle
  3. board — to get on
  4. plane — a tool
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. can — a tin
  8. cue — a hint
  9. cell — in a prison
  10. can — to be able to
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. cue — for pool
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. board — a committee
  17. cell — in biology
  18. root — of a plant
  19. cell — a phone
  20. can — a tin
  21. root — the cause
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. root — of a word
  24. cue — a signal

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