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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: wave · sharp · spell · board · plane · club · current · temple

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  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. plane — in geometry
  2. board — a committee
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. current — happening now
  7. club — for dancing
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. club — a group
  11. spell — letters
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. sharp — clever
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. club — for golf
  17. spell — magic
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. current — of water
  20. plane — a tool
  21. current — electric
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. spell — a short time
  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