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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: suit · season · board · bore · track · staff · plane · wax

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. season — in sport
  3. wax — to grow
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. staff — employees
  6. staff — employees
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. suit — clothes
  9. track — to keep track
  10. season — of the year
  11. board — a committee
  12. suit — to fit
  13. track — a song
  14. plane — a tool
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. bore — to tire
  17. staff — a stick
  18. suit — in cards
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. board — to get on
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. bore — to drill
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. bore — gave birth

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