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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: pass · plane · board · perch · ball · swing · net · band

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. perch — the fish
  4. pass — a permit
  5. swing — in golf
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. ball — a great time
  11. net — in sport
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. swing — music
  15. board — a committee
  16. net — after costs
  17. plane — a tool
  18. ball — a dance
  19. swing — to play on
  20. band — a ring
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. board — to get on
  24. band — a music group

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