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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: board · craft · plane · bound · bulb · mate · mouse · tube

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. tube — the underground
  3. plane — a tool
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. board — a committee
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. tube — a container
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bound — tied together
  14. craft — a skill
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. board — to get on
  18. mate — to breed
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mate — a partner
  22. bound — certain
  23. craft — boats
  24. bulb — for light

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