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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: fork · press · sharp · plane · bark · current · season · board

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. current — happening now
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. press — newspapers
  7. fork — in a road
  8. plane — a tool
  9. season — of the year
  10. bark — to shout
  11. press — a publisher
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. board — to get on
  15. current — electric
  16. season — in sport
  17. sharp — clever
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. board — a committee
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. press — to push
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. bark — of a tree

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