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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: current · march · board · ball · plane · deal · scale · nail

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. current — of water
  3. scale — size or range
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. march — music
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. plane — a tool
  8. ball — a great time
  9. march — the month
  10. ball — a dance
  11. deal — to handle
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. board — to get on
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. board — a committee
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. march — the month
  18. current — electric
  19. scale — in music
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. current — happening now

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