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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · rash · ball · track · face · suit · craft · board

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. suit — in cards
  3. track — a path
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. face — to confront
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. board — a committee
  8. ball — a dance
  9. plane — a tool
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. face — part of the head
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. craft — a skill
  14. suit — to fit
  15. craft — boats
  16. rash — hasty
  17. board — to get on
  18. rash — a series
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. track — a song
  21. track — to keep track
  22. suit — clothes
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. face — to point toward

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