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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: scale · bulb · foot · plane · chest · board · jam · staff

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. board — to get on
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bulb — for light
  6. scale — in music
  7. staff — a stick
  8. plane — a tool
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. chest — of your body
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. foot — a measure
  13. chest — a box
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. bulb — for light
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. staff — employees
  19. chest — of your body
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. board — a committee
  23. scale — size or range
  24. staff — employees

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