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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: jam · board · land · cabinet · ball · plane · bear · date

  1. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — ground
  2. board — to get on
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. land — to come down
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. board — a committee
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. plane — a tool
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — the fruit
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. bear — the animal
  17. land — a country
  18. ball — a dance
  19. ball — a great time
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bear — the animal
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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