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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.

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: field · plane · mate · mine · board · snap · bulb · wax

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. field — for sport
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. mine — for digging
  10. mate — a friend
  11. board — a committee
  12. snap — to click
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. plane — a tool
  15. mate — a partner
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — for light
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. mate — to breed
  20. wax — to grow
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. field — a subject
  23. board — to get on
  24. field — farmland

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