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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 116 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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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: stem · season · stick · pass · board · plane · lash · deal

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. pass — a permit
  7. deal — to handle
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. stem — to come from
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. season — of the year
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. board — to get on
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. board — a committee
  24. plane — a tool

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