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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: squash · plane · snap · bore · file · race · board · rush

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. squash — the sport
  3. file — a document
  4. bore — to tire
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. race — the arms race
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. file — a line of people
  11. board — to get on
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. board — a committee
  14. file — a tool
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. race — humankind
  18. snap — to click
  19. plane — a tool
  20. squash — to crush
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. race — a contest
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bore — to drill

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