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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: fall · date · suit · staff · fan · board · spell · plane

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. staff — a stick
  3. staff — employees
  4. board — to get on
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. spell — magic
  7. spell — letters
  8. plane — a tool
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. fall — to drop
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. fall — the season
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. spell — a short time
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. suit — clothes
  17. date — the fruit
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. board — a committee
  20. suit — in cards
  21. suit — to fit
  22. staff — employees
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. board — a flat piece

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