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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: bound · sharp · board · fan · plane · spring · suit · coach

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. spring — the season
  3. board — to get on
  4. spring — of water
  5. bound — tied together
  6. sharp — clever
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. spring — a coil
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. suit — clothes
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. plane — a tool
  15. suit — to fit
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bound — certain
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. suit — in cards
  23. board — a committee
  24. sharp — exactly

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