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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 120 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 · foot · rash · plane · season · mouse · board · chip

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. rash — hasty
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. chip — to eat
  6. foot — a measure
  7. board — a committee
  8. current — electric
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. season — of the year
  11. current — happening now
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. season — in sport
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. current — of water
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. rash — a series
  20. chip — for betting
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. board — to get on
  24. foot — the bottom

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