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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: cell · pit · dip · kid · can · board · plane · net

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. net — for catching
  4. can — to be able to
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. plane — a tool
  7. kid — child
  8. cell — in biology
  9. dip — to sink
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. net — after costs
  12. can — a tin
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. board — to get on
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. kid — to tease
  18. pit — in a race
  19. can — a tin
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. pit — a hole
  22. board — a committee
  23. net — in sport
  24. cell — a phone

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