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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: coach · board · pound · plane · fan · mark · firm · pop

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. firm — a company
  3. mark — a grade
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. pound — a weight
  6. pop — soda
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. plane — a tool
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. pop — music
  16. board — to get on
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. mark — a trace
  19. pop — to visit
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. pound — for dogs
  22. firm — steady
  23. board — a committee
  24. plane — in geometry

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