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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · deal · bass · hide · rest · plane · fan · face

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. face — to confront
  8. bass — the fish
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. rest — what's left
  11. rest — a break
  12. bass — low music
  13. plane — a tool
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. face — part of the head
  16. board — to get on
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. face — to point toward
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. deal — to handle

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