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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: board · cap · mouse · game · plane · temple · mine · spell

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. spell — a short time
  3. board — a committee
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. spell — magic
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. game — a match
  13. mine — for digging
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. game — wild animals
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. cap — of ice
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. board — to get on
  20. spell — letters
  21. cap — a hat
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. cap — a lid

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