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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: fork · mug · kid · board · plane · bowl · ruler · bulb

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. mug — a cup
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bulb — for light
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. fork — in a road
  10. kid — to tease
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. mug — a face
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. bulb — for light
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. board — to get on
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. kid — child
  22. mug — to rob
  23. board — a committee
  24. plane — an aircraft

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