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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.

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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: plane · patient · board · bound · mug · can · ruler · staff

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. can — to be able to
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. mug — to rob
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. staff — employees
  7. mug — a face
  8. plane — a tool
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. bound — certain
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. staff — employees
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bound — tied together
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. mug — a cup
  19. staff — a stick
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. board — a committee

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