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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: net · board · mate · rush · ball · plane · club · wave

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. net — after costs
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. ball — a great time
  6. board — to get on
  7. board — a committee
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. mate — a friend
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. club — for dancing
  14. plane — a tool
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. club — for golf
  17. mate — a partner
  18. rush — hurry
  19. club — a group
  20. net — for catching
  21. net — in sport
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. ball — a dance

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