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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: rock · stem · can · lean · plane · saw · rush · board

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. rock — a stone
  4. board — to get on
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. lean — thin
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. can — a tin
  9. board — a committee
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. saw — the tool
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. saw — the tool
  15. rock — music
  16. plane — a tool
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rush — hurry
  21. stem — to come from
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. lean — to bend
  24. can — a tin

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