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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 116 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: court · plane · bass · current · ball · board · bore · wake

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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. court — of law
  4. current — electric
  5. ball — a dance
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. bore — to tire
  8. bore — to drill
  9. board — to get on
  10. current — happening now
  11. ball — a great time
  12. wake — a trail
  13. plane — a tool
  14. court — for sport
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. court — of a king
  18. bass — low music
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. current — of water
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. bass — the fish
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. board — a committee

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