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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 116 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: plane · tube · board · ball · fine · suit · wound · bowl

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. tube — a container
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. wound — an injury
  9. wound — an injury
  10. ball — a great time
  11. ball — a dance
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. suit — to fit
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. board — to get on
  16. suit — in cards
  17. board — a committee
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. fine — high quality
  20. suit — clothes
  21. tube — the underground
  22. plane — a tool
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. plane — in geometry

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