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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: roll · pass · net · fine · object · wave · cell · board

  1. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. net — in sport
  3. net — after costs
  4. object — an aim
  5. fine — all right
  6. board — to get on
  7. cell — in biology
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. object — a thing
  11. roll — a cake
  12. roll — a list
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. pass — a permit
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. object — to protest
  19. board — a committee
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. net — for catching
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. fine — high quality

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