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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
468
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: content · can · pound · plane · deal · board · bear · sharp

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. pound — a weight
  5. plane — a tool
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. sharp — clever
  8. content — happy
  9. deal — to handle
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. can — a tin
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. content — the amount
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. can — a tin
  20. board — a committee
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. bear — the animal
  23. can — to be able to
  24. deal — a big deal

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