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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: plane · arm · stick · toast · board · bank · rush · row

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. bank — for money
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. row — to paddle
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. bank — of a river
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. plane — a tool
  15. board — to get on
  16. bank — for money
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. toast — bread
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. row — a line
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. rush — hurry
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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