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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: season · scale · board · toast · stand · plane · track · tube

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. track — a song
  3. season — in sport
  4. plane — a tool
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. board — a committee
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. scale — in music
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. track — to keep track
  11. track — a path
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. board — to get on
  14. tube — the underground
  15. toast — bread
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. tube — a container
  20. stand — to bear
  21. season — of the year
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. board — a flat piece

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