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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: racket · spring · bowl · board · plane · saw · charge · bulb

  1. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. saw — the tool
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. spring — the season
  5. saw — the tool
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. spring — a coil
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. board — to get on
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. bulb — for light
  13. charge — in control
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. charge — electricity
  16. board — a committee
  17. charge — a price
  18. plane — a tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bulb — for light
  24. plane — an aircraft

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