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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: spring · mouse · plane · suit · staff · board · nail · pop

  1. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. spring — a coil
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. pop — music
  5. spring — the season
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. suit — to fit
  11. board — to get on
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. suit — in cards
  14. staff — employees
  15. staff — employees
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. staff — a stick
  19. pop — to visit
  20. board — a committee
  21. pop — soda
  22. plane — a tool
  23. suit — clothes
  24. nail — on a finger

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