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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.

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: season · hide · ruler · mate · club · plane · court · board

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. board — a committee
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. plane — a tool
  5. court — for sport
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. club — for dancing
  8. mate — a friend
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. court — of law
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. season — in sport
  14. mate — to breed
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. court — of a king
  17. club — for golf
  18. board — to get on
  19. mate — a partner
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. season — of the year
  22. club — a group
  23. ruler — a monarch
  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