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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
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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: board · suit · bay · ball · plane · swing · date · mark

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. suit — to fit
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. ball — a great time
  6. suit — in cards
  7. swing — to play on
  8. suit — clothes
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. mark — a grade
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. mark — a trace
  13. plane — a tool
  14. board — to get on
  15. swing — music
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. board — a committee
  18. ball — a dance
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. swing — in golf
  21. date — the fruit
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. mark — to pay attention

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