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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: pitcher · wax · board · row · cap · plane · squash · toast

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. row — to paddle
  6. cap — of ice
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. row — a line
  9. squash — the sport
  10. board — a committee
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. squash — to crush
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. cap — a hat
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. board — to get on
  21. cap — a lid
  22. wax — to grow
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. toast — bread

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