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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: bowl · fan · board · plane · mouse · spring · stem · mug

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. board — to get on
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. spring — the season
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. mug — to rob
  7. spring — a coil
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. board — a committee
  11. stem — to come from
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. mug — a face
  16. plane — a tool
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. spring — of water
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. mug — a cup
  24. fan — a supporter

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