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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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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: tear · dip · plane · safe · board · court · trunk · toast

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. board — to get on
  3. dip — to sink
  4. tear — from crying
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. board — a committee
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. court — for sport
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. tear — to rip
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. plane — a tool
  20. toast — bread
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. tear — from crying
  23. court — of a king
  24. court — of law

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