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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: chest · mouse · board · pass · plane · fine · can · bulb

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. chest — of your body
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. can — to be able to
  6. can — a tin
  7. plane — a tool
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. can — a tin
  11. bulb — for light
  12. chest — of your body
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. chest — a box
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. board — a committee
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bulb — for light
  22. fine — all right
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. board — to get on

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