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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: board · lean · plane · lie · pass · foot · shower · roll

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. shower — rain
  3. shower — to wash
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. roll — a list
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. board — a committee
  9. foot — a measure
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. lean — thin
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. lie — to recline
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. roll — a cake
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. board — to get on
  20. plane — a tool
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. lean — to bend
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pass — to succeed

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