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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: roll · mark · plane · track · rest · chip · object · board

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. track — a song
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. rest — what's left
  5. mark — a grade
  6. rest — a break
  7. plane — a tool
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. track — a path
  10. object — a thing
  11. chip — for betting
  12. board — a committee
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. rest — what's left
  16. object — to protest
  17. track — to keep track
  18. board — to get on
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. roll — a list
  21. object — an aim
  22. roll — a cake
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. mark — a trace

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